Today’s Washington Post reports that Virginia Republican legislators are set to announce plans to overhaul the much-derided abusive driver fees plan:
RICHMOND, Aug. 22 — Republican leaders in the Virginia General Assembly said they will introduce a plan Thursday to overhaul the controversial abusive-driving fees by applying them to out-of-state motorists and trying to limit the specific traffic offenses that would trigger them.
GOP leaders, who have faced weeks of criticism over the fees, also want to explore whether the state should make it more difficult for people to lose their licenses if they cannot afford to pay the fees. The Republicans plan to swiftly implement their changes when the legislature convenes in January if they retain control of the House of Delegates and Senate after the Nov. 6 election. Although Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) excluded non-Virginians from the fees, he has said he would work with the General Assembly on the change.
If the changes pass in January, some of the fees, which range from $750 to $3,000 and have irked Virginia voters, would be applied to Maryland and D.C. motorists ticketed for abusive driving who regularly commute or shop in Northern Virginia as well as to anyone passing through the state receiving such tickets.
Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle (R-Virginia Beach), chairman of the Courts of Justice Committee, said GOP leaders decided to act because the uproar over the fees is undermining residents’ impression of the criminal justice system.
“We lost the confidence of the people on this issue, and we need to fix it,” Stolle said.
Yea, you bet you do.
