Virginia legislators, spurred by the earfuls of criticism they received from outraged motorists, are moving swiftly to repeal unpopular financial penalties for bad drivers.

General Assembly members, who will start their session in January, already have filed three bills to nix the “abusive-driver” fees.

Tens of thousands of upset Virginians signed an online petition opposing the fees shortly after the sanctions took effect July 1. Chiefly, foes object to the fees’ stiffness ($750 to $3,000 depending on the transgression) and are angry that the penalties apply only to motorists with Virginia driver’s licenses.

Many lawmakers pledged to repeal the fees during this year’s legislative campaigns, but they will have to fight Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, and House Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford.

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The two men support extending the sanctions to out-of-state motorists and limiting the offenses that carry the added punishment, but do not want to scuttle the fees, which were instituted to raise $65 million a year for road maintenance.

“I believe that the abusive-driver fees are going to save lives,” Howell told The Examiner.

A report released Wednesday by the legislature’s government-watchdog panel contradicts Howell. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission found the fees have had no effect on drivers’ behavior.

Reckless driving is down slightly, according to the commission, but arrests for drunken driving and speeding have risen since July.

“These fees were not put in place for safety, they were put in place to raise money,” said Sen. Linda Puller, D-Fairfax, who is one of two senators to introduce legislation to repeal the fees and refund penalties that have been paid.

Del. Lacey Putney, I-Bedford, was the first lawmaker this week to introduce anti-fee legislation. His bill would delete the section of state law authorizing the sanctions but would not return money to drivers.

Several motorists facing the fees successfully challenged the penalties’ constitutionality in the summer.

Appeals are pending in higher courts, which are waiting for the General Assembly to act in January or February before ruling.

jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com