Vocal public opposition to expensive new financial penalties in Virginia could cause legislators to reconsider some of the sanctions, lawmakers said, but changing the stiffest punishments is not under consideration.
Virginia drivers who commit misdemeanors and felonies will have to continue paying the “civil remedial fines,” which took effect July 1, at least until January. Though the General Assembly could reconvene before its regular session begins in January, that is not likely.
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“There will not be a special session,” House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, told The Examiner.
Legislators and Gov. Tim Kaine agreed on the fees in April as a wayto raise money for road maintenance. Unlike traditional penalties, these fees must be paid annually for three years. The first payment will be sent to the court handling the case, and the next two will go to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The fines could total between $750 and $3,000.
Lawmakers said they might remove a few misdemeanors from the list of violations. Severe violations that carry the $3,000 sanction, such as habitual drunken driving and vehicular homicide, are not being eyed for reduction.
“We will probably look at some small changes,” said Sen. Jay O’Brien, R-Clifton. “The original intent of the fees was to raise money for roads and to apply pressure to the worst drivers in Virginia to change their behavior.”
Legislators insist that only a small percentage of Virginia drivers will qualify for the new fees, but that has not stopped public outcry. An online petition to repeal the fees reported more than 60,622 signatures in its first week.
