Southwest Virginia lawmakers want to scrap the abusive driver fees that have raised the ire of lead-footed Virginians and at least one elderly lady who has never seen a police cruiser’s blue lights in her rear-view mirror.
Del. Bud Phillips, D-Sandy Ridge, said the abusive drivers fees – stiff financial penalties just for Virginia drivers who get ticketed for certain traffic offenses – were a bad idea last year and must be scrapped.
The fees were implemented to raise about $65 million for Virginia road projects, but Virginians quickly let lawmakers know they thought the fees were abusive to them and their wallets.
Phillips fielded plenty of telephone calls when he returned from Richmond last session. One call stood out, he said.
An elderly Dickenson County woman called to complain. Phillips said she was very concerned about the high fees, some of which total $3,000.
"I could tell that this was the first time she had ever called anybody in government to complain about anything," Phillips said. "She was very concerned. I told her that I would bet she had never received a ticket in her life. She said, ‘No, honey, but I might get a ticket.’ "
The woman’s worries cemented Phillips’ opinion that the fees must go. He’s not alone.
So far, state lawmakers have crafted eight competing bills in the Senate to eliminate the fees. Similar measures are afoot in the House of Delegates.
"Our delegation knows it’s the right thing to do," Phillips said of the region’s lawmakers.
Some in Richmond want to issue refunds for those who have already paid the fees in court.
Sen. William Wampler, R-Bristol, is author of one of the Senate bills that would repeal the fees.
"I never liked the bill to start with," he said. "I don’t think it’s working. I don’t think we’ll collect the dollars. It’s time to scrap it and start over."
Wampler said some provisions in the unpopular legislation may remain when the fight ends this session, but momentum is growing to get rid of all of them.
Delegate Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, is also sponsoring a bill to eliminate the fees. His bill is now in committee.
kstill@bristolnews.com | (276) 679-1338
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