Abuser fees will improve safety on Virginia’s roads, improving driver behavior and – ultimately – reducing accidents and congestion.
A new – more clearly defined and significantly improved – schedule of the offenses to which these fees actually apply has been prepared by the Virginia Supreme Court. This schedule should end much confusion – as well as inaccurate and misleading information – that has been promulgated about these fees.
Legislators intended for these fees to apply to both Virginia and non-Virginia drivers. The Governor and legislators are committed to finding -- by the time the General Assembly returns in January -- and enacting a way to appropriately assess these fees on out-of-state drivers
Legislators intended for these fees to apply to those who commit serious traffic-related misdemeanors and felonies, and to those who have shown a repeated disregard for the rules of Virginia’s roads. The Governor and legislators are committed to ensuring that the fines are applied in this manner, and will examine and, if needed, make revisions to existing statutes when the General Assembly returns in January.
An important advance for safer motoring, abuser fees enjoy the strong support of groups like MADD, AAA, DriveSmart Virginia, and others committed to improving roadway safety.
Abuser fees are one component of a groundbreaking comprehensive transportation initiative. In total, the $3 billion transportation plan represents the single largest investment in Virginia’s transportation system in 21 years, and it was approved with strong bipartisan support.
There is no need for the General Assembly to convene prior to January 2008.
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