General Assembly Analysis: Abuser Fees Back and Bigger Than Ever
The Virginian Federalist began our "General Assembly Analysis" series for this reason: "Last year bloggers and the MSM failed the people of Virginia when the General Assembly passed the accursed abuser fees without so much as a peep from the people they represent. It is the job of all forms of media to inform the public of what the government is doing." Well, the abuser fees are back, and we are here to give you the story this time.
Delegate Dave Albo, who sponsored the notorious abuser fees last year, now ups the ante with HB 161. This bill will "repeal" the abuser fees, which are civil penalties paid only by Virginia residents, and replace them with similarly high fines, which will have to be paid by all violators.
Despite all the ire directed by Virginians at Richmond following the implementation of the abuser fees last year, and after all of the rhetoric by politicians in opposition to the fees, the only bill on the issue of abuser fees still having a chance to pass this session would actually expand the scope of the fines. HB 161 has already passed the House of Delegates and is now in the Senate.
Actually, based on my reading of this bill, it looks like a good proposal. I have no problem with hefty fines being levied against drunk drivers, people who commit manslaughter, or reckless drivers with revoked or suspended licenses.
I also think it is very important that the law apply equally to all drivers on Virginia roads. I have seen too many vehicles with out-of-state plates racing past me on I-95 at speeds well over 85 mph. They need to face the same penalties that Virginians would face for such actions. This bill is intended to accomplish that.
What are your thoughts to these changes to the abuser fees? Do these changes satisfy your complaints with the original law? Do more changes need to be made? Should the General Assembly do away with these fines entirely?
Update: Del. Dave Albo responded to The Virginian Federalist's inquiry about this bill. Read his response here.
1 comments:
I think this bill is an abomination. It's nanny state, anti-people pro-government legislation at it worst.
The Constitutution gives judges and juries discretion to fit the punishment to the facts of the case. Mandatory minimums just clog up our jails and cost taxpayers money for unnecessary incacerations.
A $2250 fine for a 1st offense DWI with no accident is so out of proportion to the offense I find it abominable. How is someone on minimum wage supposed to pay that? It's just going to result in more drivers becoming permanently suspended.
Why do you get a mandatory minimum if you get a vehicular manslaughter? Why not murder? Why not killing someone with a chain saw? Mandatory fines don't deter anyone from anything and all of this revenue just goes into the Literary Fund.
Also, this bill is just going to put money in more defense lawyers pockets like Delegate Albo. I'm sick and tired of his money making schemes.
This bill belongs in the trash heap of history.
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