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Editor: Bob Battle
Profession: DUI Defense Lawyer

Category: Virginia DUI

In House Bill 3202, the transportation funding bill, the Virginia General Assembly established a new system of "civil remedial fees," the purpose of which is "to generate revenue from drivers whose proven dangerous driving behavior places significant financial burdens upon the Commonwealth."

A friend of mine (admittedly not the most optimistic fellow) once told me, "Don't ever say that things can't get any worse, because they always can!" This statement is extremely appropriate to this new law which takes effect in Virginia on July 1, 2007, which drastically increases the fines that Virginia drivers will have to pay if convicted of certain serious traffic offenses such as DUI and Reckless Driving Speeding.

One of the odd parts about this law (which coincidentally may make it open for a legal challenge that the law is unconstitutional), is that it only applies to Virginia motorists and not the many thousands of out-of-state motorists convicted of traffic offenses every year in Virginia. The law does not increase penalties for mere traffic infractions such as speeding (as opposed to Reckless Driving Speeding.)

The new law, which states that it is assessing "civil remedial fees" on drivers, will automatically add an additional fine of $3,000 to any felony traffic offense, $2,250 to any DUI conviction, and $1,050 to a reckless driving conviction for Virginia licensed drivers. The DUI and reckless driving misdemeanor statutes already carry with them a maximum fine of $2500.

A copy of the explanatory guide to these new traffic fines is availble on the website of Richmond Virginia DUI & Reckless Driving Speeding Lawyer Bob Battle.