New Virginia Traffic Laws

[Casper]

:(Effective July 1, 2007, Virginia will start imposing civil fines on top of normal traffic fines for some traffic violations - see attached article and link to full text of law. As best I understand, right now, the civil fines only affect Virginia drivers.
News Article:
http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/122360
Full Text:
http://www.bobbattlelaw.com/library/Civil%20Remedial%20Bill%20hb_3202.pdf

[oznogonzo]

Wow that's insane. I would imagine there will be a lot of angry people about this new additional fine. There are better ways to stop people from driving like idiots, and a fine is probably the least effective.

This new set of laws are draconian and just like the heavy taxes levied at smokers or any other small population simply because there aren't many people to fight the fees/fines.

Hopefully Virginia residents will find this whole business rather unsettling and contact their state lawmakers. Let them know this is not the best way to build resources for highway maintenance nor is it an effective punishment for reckless drivers.

These types of fines/fees are spreading everywhere like wildfire though. Government is taking broad steps to "generate" income from very minor things... essentially double taxing or double even triple fining the smallest misdemeanors... for example in NC we are required to have our vehicles inspected yearly. The cost of this has risen from $8 10-15 years ago to over $30 (for most... for some it's still $8, as they live in counties that do not have emissions testing). The most unsettling part of this... forget to get your car inspected on time and you get a block put on your tag, you will be fined $280 and have to go to several agencies and an inspection station to get it all cleared up.

[Silver_Phoenix]

Remind me to go 10 under whilst driving through Va.... lol

[UN4G1VN]

I might have to consider driving around Va.

[MidnightDave]

Maybe I can get my car trailered to VIR once I hit the border? ;-)

[jdavidson]

Oh well, at least I can still enjoy all the backroads around my house.. unmarked rural highways = 55mph speed limit ...I should probably check to see if that's still the case though.

[Vango]

wow that is crazy. Will be staying clear of Va.

[onefastmini]

Man, that would be the LOOONG way home for me. New York via TN,KY,OH...OUCH!!! I will just have to suck up the 4+ hours through VA... Or get a boat ;)

[Casper]

All you NC guys and gals, don't loose track of the fact that these new Virginia laws are for VIRGINIA residents. At this time, it appears that they would not apply to you. Of course those of us who live in Virginia are questioning that part of the law as being unfair - you think.

Does anyone have a spare room I can rent to get a NC address???

[onefastmini]

Does anyone have a spare room I can rent to get a NC address???

Now there's an idea :D

[TWISTER]

$2 a month and I'll let you squat here in our spare room.