A plan was approved this year to fund the annual $1 billion transportation package, in Virginia, a plan that includes the state legislators endorsing a new set of civil remedial fees for all felony and misdemeanor traffic violations. These violations include speeding 20 mph over the limit, driving with faulty equipment, DUI, and reckless driving. This is going to undoubtedly cause lots of issues for the courts, and the citizens of Virginia.
The fees are calculated basically by points on your license. A speeding ticket normally earns 4 points. Virginians will be charged $75.00 for every point above 8, and $100.00 for having that many points.
Defense attorneys, Judges and Prosecutors predicted this would cause a huge mess. I believe that the courts staff will really have to hear it from angry drivers. A lot of Virginians can’t understand how its fair for them to have to pay the fines, but out of town drivers that travel into Virginia does not have it pay them, that’s causes an even bigger problem. The reason that out of state drivers doesn’t have to pay them, is because that is supposedly part of the so-called “state licensing fees”.
An increase in traffic court trials will increase. This is because normally, defendants would just pay the ticket and go on, but as a result of these fees, a number of defendants will be unwilling to plead guilty, because of not wanting to pay the fines.
Prosecutors say that judges might suspend fines that would normally impose, knowing that a heavier civil fee waits. This money from the fines will go to county governments, which could cause a decline in revenue, and the new fee funds will go directly to the state.
Another seen issue is that this put unfair burdens on the poor, as well as anyone. Some people will not be able to pay these fines. This will cause them to possibly loose their license, which could cause the loss of jobs, or jail time.
These new fines are obviously a huge problem that will make...