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Editor: Bob Battle
Profession: DUI Defense Lawyer

Category: Virginia Reckless Driving/Speeding

An article in the Washington Post details the findings of a report prepared by the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission which found that, despite the rhetoric of politicians in favor of the new Civil Remedial Fee laws, the laws have not increased safety on Virginia highways; however, they will drastically increase the number of license suspensions.

The report found that arrests for speeding and DUI have actually increased in the second half of 2007 over the second half of 2006. The report speculates that the drop in reckless driving/speeding charges may be because of a dislike of the fine by many police officers. Officers have discretion to write someone who is caught doing above 80 mph with a mere speeding ticket. Reckless driving/speeding is a criminal misdemeanor in Virginia and the civil remedial fees add an additional $1,050 fine to these tickets for Virginia residents.

The report also shows that thousands of motorists are unwilling or unable to pay the fees. As the fees were approved in February, a person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor driving offense has to pay $250 to $1,050 a year for three consecutive years. If the motorist fails to pay, the Department of Motor Vehicles will suspend the person's driver's license.

The report states that the DMV may have to issue more than 300,000 license suspensions to drivers over the next two years for failure to pay this civil remedial fee.

For more information on this issue, visit the website of Richmond Virgina DUI and Reckless Driving Speeding Lawyer Bob Battle.