only in the USA......?

[racer270]

Extra6/30/2007 12:01 AM ET
Virginia's new $3,550 speeding ticket

Traffic offenders face whopping additional fees that live on long after they've paid their fines. It's part of a growing 'driver responsibility' trend that targets chronic offenders.

By MSN Money staff and wires

Traffic patrols have long been known as roving tax collectors. But in Virginia, they really are collecting taxes.

Starting July 1, an array of traffic offenses, from expired licenses to speeding, come with a "civil remedial fee" attached. That means a motorist convicted of reckless driving (75 mph in a 55 zone would qualify) faces not only a fine of up to $2,500 and a year in jail, but a non-negotiable $350-a-year tax for three years. The law forbids judges from waiving or reducing the fee.

Many fees dwarf the fines. A driver who disobeys an officer's order to pull into a weigh station would be fined $35 and required to pay a $61 court processing fee. But the civil remedial fee would be $900 over three years.

Drunken driving? A fee of $1,000 a year for three years, plus fines and court costs. No insurance? That's $300 a year for three years, plus fines.

It doesn't stop there. Anyone unlucky enough to have 8 points or more on his license (reckless driving is good for 6 by itself) would pay an additional $100, plus $75 for any points over 8, up to $700 a year. (For a complete list of fee-carrying offenses, see this .pdf file.)

Such "driver responsibility programs" have become increasingly common for two reasons: Many states find that serial offenders make up the bulk of their cases, and they simply need the money. In fact, Virginia added a fee rather than increase fines because it wanted the money to improve its roads, and revenue from fines must go to public schools. The fees are expected to raise $200 million a year.

I AM GLAD ,I get my ya,ya's on a race track.......LOL

[docfeelsgood]

Whats next ?? lower the speed limit to 35 mph ??? wasn't it new york state several years ago that sold millions of $$ in R-PERMITS , for hauling overweight with commercial vehicles ?? then posted all the bridges in the state with "NO R- Permits Allowed" !! if ya wanna make money all ya have to do is pass a bunch of stupid laws that it's impossible to comply with !!! keep america strong , keep em poor to keep em workin !!!!

[LustInBlack]

Shit, that makes no f*** sense..

I'm glad I don't live in the USA ..


No more liberty ..

[Gregory]

Quite an ugly thing!

I am too glad I don't live there...

I don't like when European countries are trying to copy a lot of foolish thing from the USA or from other places. This is one of the most foul behavior I have ever seen... Imitate & practice some kind of BS copied from somewhere, and represent it as a good thing through the media and a variety of ways.

Keep hoping that people are not as stupid to eat up all...

Btw, copying senseless things is much more foul than watching how someone other doing it.

[winkle]

and government being run as a corporation has become just another profit center

[Deven]

Man, I can't imagine how much I would have to pay if Maine had those laws. Right now I have about 4 speeding tickets on my record all 15+, been lucky to keep my lisence tbh.

Its probably only a matter of time, though. We're already one of the most taxed states in the country.

[murilo]

As an outsider, an ''untouchable'', and knowing to EU and US, I have the feeling that there - in EU/US - the stuffs work much well. It's possible that I can send you another view.

It's not a question of laws... we have here the best of laws but mixed to a tender catholic forgiveness and paternal / emotional indulgence.

In US, as I know, one must be sure that Calvino laws will kindly forgive you, but *will not absolve*; of sure you'll pay exactly according to what you did. No deals!

You complain, but you just can't know what a mess a country can be.

It's not a question of laws, that are all good. You'll try to be a good guy if you are sure that you'll pay hardly and with no ''arrangements''.

The US have about 80% more people than my country, but carcerary population is 10 times bigger than ours... #:(#

Even if you come to complain, be sure that this STRONG system is really still necessary for the humans of nowdays.

If you think of dollars, the bigger system is thinking of lost inocent lives, insurance, stress of people...

Take care... M.

[graham]

The US have about 80% more people than my country, but carcerary population is 10 times bigger than ours... #:(#

Hi Murilo, what does "carcerary" mean ?

Graham

[DrWhat]

incarcerated? (ie in jail?)

[murilo]

Grahan, hi.
Thanks for asking.
Maybe I forced the use of uncommon latin roots...
This word has to see with ''jail'', people unjailed, encarceration, prison, population in carcer and so.
regs/M.

( incarcerated? ie in jail?)
Yep... thanks Doc!

[graham]

OK , so you're saying there is a highter percentage of the population that are criminals in the U S than there are in Brazil.

It doesn't say much for our system does it?

Graham

[murilo]

No, dear...
I said - of sure in macaronic english - that in US there are much more condemned people or absolute quantity of people in jail.
Criminal rates are not considered.
We have down here a very ineficient and soft system and an important percentage of guilted guys are just on the streets.
( I hope you'll reach to this point.)
regs. M.

[Deven]

I understand what you're saying, but I wouldn't call speeders criminals. :)

I just don't think its fair to impose unfair fines such as these on people when driving isn't even a right. The state can take your lisence for any reason, and because of this they feel that they can charge you outrageous fines for minor offenses. Its nothing short of an abuse of power on the part of any state who has laws such as this.

In my opinion the whole traffic system is just another way to tax people without actually calling it taxes. There are many better ways to make our roads and cars safer, but those ways do not bring income into the government.

[winkle]

I understand what you're saying, but I wouldn't call speeders criminals. :)

at least not on the criminal scale of our elected officials

[docfeelsgood]

has anyone ever wondered why government officials in the U.S. are exempt from mandatory drug testing while they have mandated everyone else be subjected to it ?