July 2, 2007
Beginning this week those drivers who flaunt Virginia's laws against dangerous motorists will risk greater fines. The new law, that was passed in February and went into effect on July 1st, targets those drivers who have endangered the families of our citizens by irresponsible activity that risks others that use the roads.
Despite what some have said and written it will not affect anyone who is stopped for a broken tail light.
Drivers who have a safe driving record with only an infrequent ticket on their record have no reason to worry about this change. Hopefully those with poor driving records will take notice and do a better job of following the laws of the Commonwealth.
The experience in other states has been that once the motoring public becomes aware of these fees, driving behavior improves and accident rates go down. This is not speculation but has been demonstrated statistically elsewhere.
Frankly, the impetus for this approach came from legislators in urban, congested areas where bad driving habits are all too common. If those drivers do not alter their driving habits they will end up paying for our bridge and road repairs here in Southside Virginia and other rural areas.
The fines assessed under the new legislation will be used to pay the debt on the statewide transportation package that was passed during the 2007 session of The General Assembly.
This session, every legislator was better informed about the deteriorating condition of our bridges and the maintenance needs of our roads. In order to maintain one of the largest statewide transportation systems in the nation some action had to be taken. There was not support for more taxes on gasoline nor was there support for returning maintenance responsibility to counties as some states do. This left few options to address our transportation needs.
The least offensive action was to sell bonds that would be paid for with excess revenues in the coming years. The greater fines for dangerous driving will be used to pay off those bonds.
This is a sample of some of the offences that are included in the legislation.
- If a reckless driver commits vehicular manslaughter it is now not only a class 5 felony, but will also carry $1,000 in fines. Involuntary manslaughter charges related to poor driving, aggravated assault, or driving drunk.
- Driving drunk and maiming will also draw felony charges and $1,000 fines.
- The unauthorized use of a motor vehicle will also draw felony charges and a $1,000 fine.