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(The Virginian Pilot) Asinine Virginia Governor urges legislature to repeal abusive driver fees. Why? A) They did not raise expected revenues. B) They are unconstitutional. Hint: It's not B   (hamptonroads.com) divider line 82
More: Asinine  
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daychilde [TotalFark] 2008-01-10 09:37:03 AM  
I c) what you did there

 
Death By Monkey 2008-01-10 12:19:45 PM  
Good one, d)aychilde

 
poisonpill 2008-01-10 12:21:48 PM  
Well nobody will listen to him if he brought up the constitution. Since when is that thing relevant?

 
Manfred J. Hattan 2008-01-10 12:22:04 PM  
Death By Monkey: Good one, d)aychilde

This trend could e)ndure.

 
thejoz 2008-01-10 12:22:19 PM  
The correct answer is C) "Because the voters told us to do it, and we should listen to them"

 
PicoDelSol [TotalFark] 2008-01-10 12:23:04 PM  
To be fair, he mentioned that his desire to repeal the law was also because it was not improving highway safety (obvious) and that ""Virginians in huge numbers have told us the fees should be repealed. We should listen to them."

Even still... he's a dirtbag. Makes me wish Warner would run for governor again rather than the senate.

 
Shadowknight [recently expired TotalFark] 2008-01-10 12:24:11 PM  
Well, that, and it pissed voters like me off to no end. A speeding ticket for ten over would cost you about $250, plus almost $2k+ if you have had more than one within two years.

But don't worry, it's "The Commonwealth." They'll find another way to screw the money out of us like we are pinatas you can ass-rape for cash.

 
SlothB77 2008-01-10 12:24:15 PM  
C) virginia voters replaced all of the people who supported the fees with people who wanted to end them and kaine wants to get re-elected. Oh, and yesterday was the first day the virginia government returned to session for the new year.

 
Ryan2065 2008-01-10 12:25:18 PM  
Uh, are they unconstitutional?

 
SlothB77 2008-01-10 12:26:47 PM  
The dynamics of the legislature changed in fall's elections when Democrats gained a majority in the state Senate for the first time in 12 years. Republicans still control the House of Delegates.

the dems voted in were against the fees. the republicans voted out were for the fees.

/republican.

 
kenwastinger 2008-01-10 12:26:49 PM  
He should stick to handing out sample of Nuke. Now THAT would raise some revenue, perhaps even enough to save the city from OCP buyout.

 
boogie_down 2008-01-10 12:27:03 PM  
Manfred J. Hattan: Death By Monkey: Good one, d)aychilde

This trend could e)ndure.


You got that right Manf)red.

 
The Dreaded Rear Admiral [recently expired TotalFark] 2008-01-10 12:27:54 PM  
nashBridges: Fark Kaine. He was the asshat that forced the provision that the fees only apply to Virginia residents, giving tourists and illegal aliens a pass.

He should shiat in his own mouth to prove he was wrong.


Glad to see you've assessed the situation... looked at all the facts... given thought to the process... and completely blamed the wrong person.

The fees are abusive. NOT to so-called "abusive drivers"... but to everyone. They're ridiculous. They shouldn't have ever existed. Kaine correctly asserted that collection of the absorbatant fees would be impossible to out-of-state residents... and that attempting to track them down for collection would eat into a large chunk of the suppossed revenues. Sorry that you feel that out-of-staters and "illegals" get a free pass... but it was never going to turn out any other way.

Your rage should be directed to those numbnuts in the legislature who thought these fees would ever fly in the first place, not the guy who literally saved the incredibly flawed system from being even more so.

 
CastorPimp 2008-01-10 12:28:02 PM  
I hate how Virginia turned into a democrat state. We got 7 new taxes this year, inspections up $10, labor is now subject to 5% tax....

I hate Kaine, I hope this gets repealed asap

 
Craig341 2008-01-10 12:28:17 PM  
Manfred J. Hattan: Death By Monkey: Good one, d)aychilde

This trend could e)ndure.


I f)ucking hope not.

 
polt8115 2008-01-10 12:28:19 PM  
i248.photobucket.com

approves, and needs money

 
sift 2008-01-10 12:28:36 PM  
nashBridges

Durrr. You can't legally force out of state drivers to pay the civil fees. If you issue a ticket the money goes to a education fund. Its in the state constitution. So to direct the money to the road funds, they have to issue a seperate civil fee. Which is only enforceable to VA residents.

 
ngkf7 2008-01-10 12:29:38 PM  
I go to school in VA but live out of state. And once I graduate in May, I have no desire to ever return to it. The governments, state and local, are solely based around the goal of extorting money from citizens. If VA didn't have the miserable ABC stores to jack up booze prices, fines would be so ridiculous to cover all of the other state costs. Here's an idea, clean up the police force, you could have half of the roster in some areas - 30 cops aren't needed to make sure you're going under 60mph on one road in bum-fark VA.

/don't even get me started on WVA

 
XxDavidZullenxX 2008-01-10 12:30:46 PM  
Craig341: Manfred J. Hattan: Death By Monkey: Good one, d)aychilde

This trend could e)ndure.

I f)ucking hope not.


g)ood try, but Boogie beat ya to the F.

 
ngkf7 2008-01-10 12:30:49 PM  
Oh I forgot:

g)od Kaine is a miserable douche.

 
bongmiester [TotalFark] 2008-01-10 12:31:04 PM  
g)ood

 
drone1 2008-01-10 12:31:22 PM  
SlothB77 Virginia Governors cannot serve consecutive terms


// just sayin

 
ngkf7 2008-01-10 12:31:31 PM  
damn, and I was beaten to the g.

h)ell with it then

 
CastorPimp 2008-01-10 12:32:38 PM  
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PicoDelSol [TotalFark] 2008-01-10 12:33:14 PM  
SlothB77: C) virginia voters replaced all of the people who supported the fees with people who wanted to end them and kaine wants to get re-elected. Oh, and yesterday was the first day the virginia government returned to session for the new year.

Governors in VA cannot serve two consecutive terms, so I don't think it's about his desire to stay in office.

 
ToastmasterGeneral 2008-01-10 12:34:01 PM  
sift is right.

That said, I think it's stupid to use offense fees designed to discourage bad behavior as funding sources. You fail, either way. If the roadways are safer because you've changed people's behavior, then you're losing the revenue that you were relying on for transportation funding.

On the other hand, if the revenue stays stable, you're not actually encouraging safer driving.


However, these fees (fines/taxes/whatever) affect like 2% of the population. And generally speaking, the poorest driving 2%. I want the fees gone, but I also don't think it's a travesty if somebody reckless or drunk driving has to pay.

 
Ryan2065 2008-01-10 12:34:02 PM  
CastorPimp: i)
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a)ss

 
PicoDelSol [TotalFark] 2008-01-10 12:34:13 PM  
drone1: SlothB77 Virginia Governors cannot serve consecutive terms


// just sayin


Damn you!

 
Andulamb 2008-01-10 12:34:52 PM  
Well, that, and it pissed voters like me off to no end. A speeding ticket for ten over would cost you about $250, plus almost $2k+ if you have had more than one within two years.

I think that was the point. It's not like people drive 10+ miles over the speed limit by accident. If you don't like the high fines, there's an easy way to avoid them.

 
High Karate 2008-01-10 12:35:21 PM  
Craig341: Manfred J. Hattan: Death By Monkey: Good one, d)aychilde

This trend could e)ndure.

I f)ucking hope not.


What he said.

Also, these laws are bunk keef.

 
p0wl 2008-01-10 12:37:30 PM  
I live in Virginia, so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies...


Seriously though, keep the fines people here drive like shiat.

 
nytmare 2008-01-10 12:38:45 PM  
Andulamb: I think that was the point. It's not like people drive 10+ miles over the speed limit by accident. If you don't like the high fines, there's an easy way to avoid them.

I don't like the low speed limits.

/monkeywrench

 
CastorPimp 2008-01-10 12:41:51 PM  
people here drive like idiots, but i'd rather them go 10 over than 10 under. people seriously drive ~40-45mph on Leesburg pike rt7 with a posted 55mph limit.

 
Ochiba 2008-01-10 12:42:19 PM  
The Dreaded Rear Admiral: Kaine correctly asserted that collection of the absorbatant fees would be impossible to out-of-state residents...

Holy f)uck.. that word is pure gold!

 
maxximillian 2008-01-10 12:45:31 PM  
p0wl: I live in Virginia, so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies...


Seriously though, keep the fines people here drive like shiat.


Couldn't agree more. When I first moved up here I couldn't get over the fact that their seems to be this general consensus to speed. Not just 5 or 8mph faster it's more like 15-20.

 
DrJesusPhD [TotalFark] 2008-01-10 12:50:43 PM  
Ryan2065:: Uh, are they unconstitutional?

Yes they are. Violates the equal protection clause. The law discriminates against Virginia residents.

In his own goddamn state, too. This guy is a douchebag of the highest order.

 
DrJesusPhD [TotalFark] 2008-01-10 12:51:58 PM  
maxximillian: Seriously though, keep the fines people here drive like shiat.

Do you ever neglect to signal when changing lanes?

That's $2000, please.

 
DrJesusPhD [TotalFark] 2008-01-10 12:56:50 PM  
SlothB77: the dems voted in were against the fees. the republicans voted out were for the fees.

/republican.


This. Both my delegate and senator are democrats and represent the most liberal part of the state. They're also among the strongest opponents of the fees.

 
TheGreyPiper 2008-01-10 12:58:18 PM  
Ryan2065: Uh, are they unconstitutional?

Not until a court declares them so. Laws are presumed to be constitutional, as the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

 
ToastmasterGeneral 2008-01-10 12:58:33 PM  
DrJesusPhD: Ryan2065:: Uh, are they unconstitutional?

Yes they are. Violates the equal protection clause. The law discriminates against Virginia residents.

In his own goddamn state, too. This guy is a douchebag of the highest order.


No they're not. They're perfectly constitutional. They're civil fees if a Virginia driver wants to renew his/her drivers license.

While many states reciprocate on points on your license for traffic offenses, there is no requirement that Montana honor a speeding ticket issued to a Montana driver in Virginia and put 4 points on his Montana license.

Likewise, if Virginia wants to say that you have to be 17 to drive, or that you have to renew your license yearly, or that you have to pay fees based on traffic offenses, they can do so.

 
TheGreyPiper 2008-01-10 01:00:03 PM  
cashed: Andulamb: Well, that, and it pissed voters like me off to no end. A speeding ticket for ten over would cost you about $250, plus almost $2k+ if you have had more than one within two years.

I think that was the point. It's not like people drive 10+ miles over the speed limit by accident. If you don't like the high fines, there's an easy way to avoid them.

Wow, seriously... please go fark yourself with a rusty pole. Please.


Wow, seriously....drive into a bridge abutment. At 90 mph.

 
alizeran 2008-01-10 01:01:32 PM  
I live in charlottesville, and the city here did the same thing in a miniature version on three specific streets (all in my neighborhood). So 20 over on say Avon St with two priors = $225 ticket + $3000 state civil fees + $300 city civil fees... $3525.00! I dont even drive on those streets anymore.

The other gem about these state fees is that if you cannot pay in full at the day of the traffic hearing, your licensce is suspended for a year immediately!

/Suxxors

 
Director_Mr 2008-01-10 01:02:08 PM  
maxximillian: p0wl: I live in Virginia, so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies...


Seriously though, keep the fines people here drive like shiat.

Couldn't agree more. When I first moved up here I couldn't get over the fact that their seems to be this general consensus to speed. Not just 5 or 8mph faster it's more like 15-20.


If everybody speeds, the speed limits are too low. Also, if everybody speeds, the fines aren't working. If they were working, EVERYBODY wouldn't be speeding.

 
DrJesusPhD [TotalFark] 2008-01-10 01:03:59 PM  
ToastmasterGeneral: While many states reciprocate on points on your license for traffic offenses, there is no requirement that Montana honor a speeding ticket issued to a Montana driver in Virginia and put 4 points on his Montana license.

Likewise, if Virginia wants to say that you have to be 17 to drive, or that you have to renew your license yearly, or that you have to pay fees based on traffic offenses, they can do so.


The courts of Virginia disagree.

This law does not give equal protection to Virginia residents. Period.

 
PTeller 2008-01-10 01:05:56 PM  
The police need to ticket the coffin dodgers and golfers that hang out in the left lane all day. These people force faster drivers to pass dangerously on the right to just get by. It is the lack of common courtesy or confusion about what a rear view mirror does that gives people road rage and causes them to drive more aggressively than they normally would. And make the driving test harder to pass. Anyone with experience driving a tractor can get a license in VA.
+1 for Germany and their driving laws and drivers. Driving is actually fun over there.

 
DrJesusPhD [TotalFark] 2008-01-10 01:06:41 PM  
TheGreyPiper: Not until a court declares them so. Laws are presumed to be constitutional, as the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

You're full of shiat.

Besides, a court has declared it so.

 
runchkin 2008-01-10 01:09:21 PM  
DrJesusPhD: This law does not give equal protection to Virginia residents. Period.

This.

 
darksarin 2008-01-10 01:14:40 PM  
Speed laws are absurd. They in no way account for things that matter--like current conditions, driver ability, average traffic, unseen hazards, road worthiness of your vehicle, etc.

I would be fine with income-based fines designed to be punishing (with exponential increase with each offense within a time period, we can work out the exact algorithm later), but not life-altering, as long as we also had tailored speed limits. Tech wise this requires a device that is placed INSIDE the car that displays the speed limit for you in your current location. It would uplink based on a two-way gps system that would account for all traffic on the road, weather, and other conditions, and would be set to include your scores on a driving ability, visual acuity and visual contrast battery of tests. Yes it's an expensive set up, but its also the safest waw to go in the long run.

/fark $2000 tickets for people making 20k/year. I'd never be able to pay it when I was a student. Even now that's a good chunk of my monthly income.

 
Jairzinho 2008-01-10 01:19:57 PM  
DrJesusPhD: Do you ever neglect to signal when changing lanes?

That's $2000, please.


That's something I would be happy with. If there is something that pisses me off the most is farktards changing lanes and no farking signal. Same for turns.

With the years I've made the habit of unconsciously signaling every time the steering wheel goes one way or the other beyond some point. Sometimes even I feel like an idiot for signaling a turn inside an empty parking lot so I have to make the conscious effor to not to, and get that feeling that something is missing.

 
TypoFlyspray 2008-01-10 01:20:03 PM  
p0wl: I live in Virginia, so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies...

Seriously though, keep the fines people here drive like shiat.


Yeah, but you can't collect them from Maryland drivers. You think Virginia is bad? Oye ve do you have issues. Maryland drivers are half again as bad, and try driving up in the northeast between NYC and Boston. You will never drive again if you do that and think Virginia is full of bad drivers.

Actually, the greater DC metro area has a major problem with shiatty drivers: All the arrogance of Northern drivers combines with all the ignorance of Southern ones. More arrogance in Maryland, more ignorance in Virginia.

One thing that's getting lost here is that the fees make the road less safe. If you're tooling along 81 at 80 that's relatively safe in many stretches as long as you're watching the road not watching the side of the road for cops who can nail you for a a month's worth of your income. These fees were a terrible idea.

Now, the way they passed is that nobody is going to argue that someone who blows .25 BAC ought not get screwed for a ton of cash. They are a threat to the life and health of anyone near them when they're behind the wheel. But 20 miles over the speed limit cold sober on a rural highway? Or even at all over the speed limit on the stretches of 81 where the limit pushes 80? This is not reckless. This doesn't even deserve the extra points it already gets. And blowing an 0.08? Pfft. 2 drinks. This is not about saftey. This is about trying to impose prohibition by the back door.

Kaine is, indeed a douchebag, and the only thing he has going for him is that he is less of a douchebag than any Republican who might conceivably run for Governor. And Cuccismelli? He's on the right side of this issue and the wrong side of every other issue.

 
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