+- Madison Motorsports (https://forum.mmsports.org)
+-- Forum: Madison Motorsports (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Lounge (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=6)
+--- Thread: VA Speeding Fines increasing... (/showthread.php?tid=6096)
- Mike - 06-27-2007
asteele2 Wrote:HAULN-SS Wrote:http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform
:?:
Mike Wrote:hehe that's what i was thinking too, but i didn't say it
So why does it matter if he's your neighbor?
name dropping is fun.
fwiw, i would like to thank derek for posting that link. i used it as well.
- Ginger - 06-27-2007
Since somebody used it I retract my :?:
- HAULN-SS - 06-29-2007
Mr. Cole:
I think the Washington Post may have misled you on the application of the
so-called "abuser fees." I spoke at length with the reporter who wrote the
Post story to give him the facts, and he chose not only to ignore what I
told him, but he wrote a story that had was long on hype and short on facts.
I have attached an article I wrote on the subject this week that may help to
clarify the facts. There is additional information available on my web site
at: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.tomrust.org/press.room.php">http://www.tomrust.org/press.room.php</a><!-- m -->.
Also, please allow me to provide a couple notes specific to the concerns you
raised in your e-mail that are not addressed in my article:
1. Generally drivers are not cited if they honestly forget their driver's
license, unless the arresting officer cannot discern the driver's true
identity to his or her satisfaction. The true intent of the driving without
a license ordinance is to apply to those individuals who truly do not have a
valid driver's license. It mostly applies to illegal aliens. Most judges
will dismiss the case or reduce the conviction if you can produce a driver's
license in court. If you do happen to get a conviction under this section,
the abuser fee would be the least of your worries since a conviction is a
Class 2 criminal misdemeanor with the possibility of jail time.
2. You are correct that failure to signal is technically reckless driving.
It is one of the quirks of the law in Virginia. However, I have been unable
to find any case where a driver was convicted of reckless driving for simply
forgetting to signal. Generally, there are other violations involved or the
violation resulted in an accident. This may be a section of Code that we
revisit next year to ensure that people are not obtaining reckless driving
convictions if that truly is their only offense. Reckless driving is a
Class 1 criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $2,500
fine, and license suspension. Again, for most people the punishment for the
offense is more of a concern than the abuser fee.
I hope you will read the attached article. I just want to emphasize that
the fees will NOT apply to minor traffic infractions, unless you happen to
get a whole bunch of them in a very short time. This law is intended to go
after those who commit misdemeanor and felony crimes on our roadways or who
are habitual offenders. This is not intended to apply to regular drivers
who have the misfortune of getting a ticket or two for speeding.
I hope this information helps. If you are still concerned and want to
discuss the issue with me further, I am happy to take your call personally.
My business office is (703) 449-6700.
Thank you for taking the time to contact me about this issue.
Sincerely,
Thomas Davis Rust
I'm formulating a response along the lines of not needing laws that aren't enforced, or not consistantly not enforced.
- Ginger - 06-29-2007
I'm impressed... with both of you.
I'm glad you're writing him back, and I'm surprised he wrote you at all.
I think Mr. Rust is lying through his teeth, or just plain dumb. If he really believes what he's aying he wouldn't make much of a historian. "Generally" and "supposed to help with" are far too broad... I'm not paying a $3,000 ticket for anything.
- Feersty - 06-29-2007
These new superfluous fines are for revenue for VA transportation projects, plain and simple. It's also completely rediculous.
- CaptainHenreh - 06-29-2007
Feersty Wrote:These new superfluous fines are for revenue for VA transportation projects, plain and simple. It's also completely rediculous.
As stated in line #1, hooray.
- white_2kgt - 06-29-2007
Feersty Wrote:These new superfluous fines are for revenue for VA transportation projects, plain and simple. It's also completely rediculous.
Out of the 6 pages worth of replies you really don't think this topic has been covered?
- Feersty - 07-01-2007
good luck on the roads today and beyond everyone in VA.
- mrbaggio - 07-02-2007
Feersty Wrote:good luck on the roads today and beyond everyone in VA.
Hi, I'm earth. Have we met?
- ScottyB - 07-02-2007
even the radio shows here in atlanta were making fun of the new VA fines this morning
- BLINGMW - 07-02-2007
ScottyB Wrote:even the radio shows here in atlanta were making fun of the new VA fines this morning
Haha, like they have room to talk! I'd rather pay a $1000 fine rather than be killed by a collapsing bridge after a drunk illegal driving a dump truck takes out a bridge abutment! :lol:
- Goodspeed - 07-02-2007
A little OT, but from my observation, higher fines and tougher penalties might actually be a good thing. Hear me out....in Europe, fines and penalties are generally much worse than the US (all the way up to losing your license for life).
However, those higher fines mean that required revenue can be gained through fewer traffic stops, by fewer cops, in fewer locations. In my 3 years of living here and the other times I have visited, I have never, ever seen a traffic cop pull anyone over, or ticket anyone, or do anything for that matter, and they are generally very well funded here.
My theory is that higher fines = less nitpickety BS by traffic police. They can focus on actual dangerous offenders like drunk drivers without pulling people over and fining them for a busted taillight.
However I know Europe v. America is apples to oranges, things are different but, at least here, the higher fines work very well, and hell...you can still do 120mph on a 80mph highway and the cops don't care so whatever.
- CaptainHenreh - 07-02-2007
Goodspeed Wrote:My theory is that higher fines = less nitpickety BS by traffic police. They can focus on actual dangerous offenders like drunk drivers without pulling people over and fining them for a busted taillight.
ROFL.
Poor, sweet, naive goodspeed.
- Andy - 07-02-2007
CaptainHenreh Wrote:Goodspeed Wrote:My theory is that higher fines = less nitpickety BS by traffic police. They can focus on actual dangerous offenders like drunk drivers without pulling people over and fining them for a busted taillight.
ROFL.
Poor, sweet, naive goodspeed.
I don't know if that's fair to dismiss his theory. He's referring to a region that he's had direct interactions with and he qualified his statement by saying that his theory might not translate to America. I would be hesitant to call a well traveled person like Goodspeed naive especially when it comes to comparing different systems, govt, cultures.
- CaptainHenreh - 07-02-2007
Andy Wrote:I don't know if that's fair to dismiss his theory. He's referring to a region that he's had direct interactions with...
Oh come on. No offense to goodspeed, but that's typical overoptimistic college-student na├»vet├®. Next he'll be preaching the benefits of socialism.
It's bullshit, pure and simple. Look at the UK, where cameras take your picture at point A, and again at point B, and if your average speed was over the limit they mail your ass a ticket. Oooh, but there's less nitpickety bullshit to be sure.
When law violations become a source of revenue they stay that way. Nitpickety bullshit tickets bring in money, and unless you can eliminate that, they're here to stay. My own experience proves this. I walked away from my SVX with 9 tickets. NINE, with one criminal charge. I had to go back to the police station so they could look up what code section I had violated. It took 3 of them to decide which law I had broken, and write me a ticket for it.
If Public Servants were genuinely interested in serving the public, I'd agree with goodspeed. But most Public Servants are most interested in serving themselves.
- Dave - 07-02-2007
yeah, but we're talking about the stupid american that makes up the general population that make up our fine country. The same person that needs a bright yellow warning with a picture not to stick their hand into the hard plastic fan revolving at several thousand RPMs.
- white_2kgt - 07-02-2007
Goodspeed Wrote:My theory is that higher fines = less nitpickety BS by traffic police. They can focus on actual dangerous offenders like drunk drivers without pulling people over and fining them for a busted taillight.
Generally cops don't just pull you over for a busted tail light. First they notice you driving a little 'wonkey' then they run the tag, check out the record and SAY they pulled you for the taillight. You just got your license, you'll learn
- CaptainHenreh - 07-02-2007
white_2kgt Wrote:Generally cops don't just pull you over for a busted tail light. First they notice you driving a little 'wonkey' then they run the tag, check out the record and SAY they pulled you for the taillight. You just got your license, you'll learn
Only because it was on last night:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRWmeZMEf9w">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRWmeZMEf9w</a><!-- m -->
- PDenbigh - 07-02-2007
white_2kgt Wrote:Generally cops don't just pull you over for a busted tail light.
Unless one is driving a "what the hell is that thing" XR4Ti to VIR following an Expedition pulling a trailer....
- white_2kgt - 07-02-2007
PDenbigh Wrote:white_2kgt Wrote:Generally cops don't just pull you over for a busted tail light.
Unless one is driving a "what the hell is that thing" XR4Ti to VIR following an Expedition pulling a trailer....
We were speeding. :lol: You just got lucky!