VA Speeding Fines increasing...

[Goodspeed]

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.

I was....just.....offering my theory

Of course I know that anything I suggested wouldn't work in the real world; if tickets are now 1000 dollars instead of 100 dollars than of course traffic cops will be extra vigilant to rake in a billion dollars instead of a million dollars. Of course its stupid, and serves only to screw over Virginia's population.

I dunno....the glass smooth roads with little to no speed control...makes me almost want to stay here :wink:

[Maengelito]

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!

how many road construction cones/barrels did you guys knock over in the process?

[.RJ]

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Yay, more money!

[Mike]

mo money, mo money, mo money!

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[Sijray21]

it's their way of 'getting rid' of the car tax....that was promised how many years ago?

i need socal....bad

[.RJ]

i need socal....bad

+1

[Goodspeed]

How is it that you think California is any better than VA for DMV processing and costs, traffic enforcement, ticketing and fines, and general automotive enthusiasm? I think CA is the last place in the nation I'd live if I was concerned about those things. Hell when I go back to my hometown I see a dozen cops harassing people on the road every day, and this is up in the mountains. I couldn't imagine the hell that would be socal. I can think of a lot of things wrong with that state, with all the funding it needs + things like CARB, no thanks

[Ginger]

Well, for one, lanesplitting is legal. For two the graduation of the VA roadway ticketing system is moving towards outright draconianism... points for HOV? $3,000 civil fines? 2 of the new 6 point tickets and you lose your license? There's no sense and it's abuse of authority. At least THAT isn't an issue in socal... and the weather's always nice.

[Sijray21]

How is it that you think California is any better than VA for DMV processing and costs, traffic enforcement, ticketing and fines, and general automotive enthusiasm?

the area makes it more tolerable - compensating in different areas for the higher fines. have you ever driven the Pacific Coastal Highway, or atleast ridden in a car that has? It's amazing and the fact that you can pretty much ride all year round with little threat of rain is pretty nice.

Traffic is just as bad - if not a little better than the DC area. The drivers aren't as inconsiderate and generally they pay attention a *little* more. Not a lot, but noticeable coming from the DC area and driving in SD, LA and SF.

The increased fines and costs of living in the dc area is just another reason to leave it behind (atleast for a little while).

[Mike]

The increased fines and costs of living in the dc area is just another reason to leave it behind (atleast for a little while).

as if socal is cheaper? lol.

by moving to socal all you get are: hot bitches, great weather, beaches, the ability to say you live in socal.

you're not getting away from: high cost of living, lame laws, or traffic.

[G.Irish]

Eh I've been to LA plenty of times and the traffic is just as bad and worse (try going up 10 on Saturday at 1 pm) and the tax burden is greater than it is in VA (albeit by only 1.4%). The weather is much nicer, the women are hotter, you can lane-split, and you're on the beach so those are big pluses. But real estate is silly expensive and their mass transit sucks in comparison to the DC Metro. San Diego might be better but LA is just about a wash. I suppose it gets an extra plus for being 4 hours from VegASS though.

That said one of my evil schemes does involve SoCal so I could be moving there too. Not until late 08 though.

[.RJ]

That said one of my evil schemes does involve SoCal so I could be moving there too. Not until late 08 though.

Might as well just relocate all of us in the house at once then

[Mike]

heard back regarding my letter:

Thank you for your message to Senator Whipple. She and many other legislators supported raising the gasoline tax. A 5 cent per gallon increase would have cost the motorist who uses 10 gallons a week fifty cents and 20 gallons $1.00 a week. This would have spread the burden of paying for road construction and maintenance since all drivers would contribute.

However, the Republican majority in the House of Delegates believed that Virginians would not accept any tax increase for transportation improvements. They insisted on using a ÔÇ£feeÔÇØ based system, which severely penalizes even minor traffic offenses.

While many believe that reckless driving and DUI offenses should be punished more severely than they are, these fees will create a hardship for some citizens.

However, the bill, HB 3202, patroned by the Speaker of the House of Delegates passed because legislators realize that Virginia no longer can fund the transportation system, and the majority party will not support more equitable solutions.

i think the gas solution makes a lot more sense since a) it won't increase the likelihood of cops being douches and b) who is really going to notice 50 cents a week in gas? it might actually make people drive less and ride bikes or something! that's a good thing.

[Ginger]

You think it actually might? And the fact that over 50% of the cost of gas is ALREADY from taxes doesn't change that? 5 cents is a drop in the bucket from another tax that's absurd, too. Nobody's going to change their driving habits over 5 cents and it doens't make sense for people like myself who don't use public transportation to fund, through civil fines and tax hikes, the lame duck that it is.

Of course public transportation is cheaper than regular means, before anybody says it, no public transit system in the history of the world has ever even made enough money to be self-sustaining.

[G.Irish]

Its not about mass transit, its about all transportation costs including mass transit. It all has to get paid for somehow.

And even if you don't use the metro system it still helps you because it means less cars on the road. Some 700,000 people take the metro rail every day with another 400k+ taking the bus. If all of those people drove the traffic would be an order of magnitude worse.

[.RJ]

no public transit system in the history of the world has ever even made enough money to be self-sustaining.

Even NYC?

[Mike]

right... if people aren't willing to change their ways, then it is a drop in the bucket... do you think we'd be discussing this (or it would be all over nationwide news) if they simply raise gas taxes a bit?

[G.Irish]

no public transit system in the history of the world has ever even made enough money to be self-sustaining.

Even NYC?

Actually the London Underground is for profit and is profitable and probable some of the other European systems are too. I have to think Japan's subways are profitable too given that its almost impossible to get around by car in cities like Tokyo so everyone takes the subway.

[Ginger]

I should qualify - by public transit I mean government operated.

I still don't think it's fair, however, to force payment of that system on people that don't use it. Theoretically I see I benefit from it, but as far as my dollar goes it's a waste. I understand your point, but I don't see it as even remotely fair to force operational costs on people that don't choose them.

[.RJ]

I don't see it as even remotely fair to force operational costs on people that don't choose them.

Well, then you'll need to move to a little island in the middle of nowhere then.

Your tax dollars pay for all kinds of things that you'll never use. They also pay for things that you do use, along with everyone else.