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Moves afoot to repeal 'abuser-fees' bill
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“We’ve heard from the public loud and clear and we’re responding to their outrage,” said Del. Brian Moran, who expected “overwhelming bipartisan support” for the repeal of unpopular fees for dangerous driving.
Richmond (Map, News) - A bill that would repeal the unpopular “abuser fees” on bad or dangerous drivers will head to the House floor early next week after a near-unanimous transportation committee vote Thursday.
The committee voted 21-1 to push through the legislation, submitted by Del. Clarke Hogan, R-South Boston, though without a refund that some lawmakers had hoped for. A Senate committee passed a similar bill Wednesday also stripped of the refund provision.
Also included in the House measure is a provision that would take a 1 percent auto registration fee out of the hands of car dealers and instead have a state agency collect the money.
The votes represent concrete steps toward the death of the abuser fees that many officials believe is inevitable this session.
Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said he expected “overwhelming bipartisan support” once the repeal reaches the House floor Monday.
“We’ve heard from the public loud and clear, and we’re responding to their outrage,” he said.
The fees were enacted last session as part of a statewide transportation funding package. But after furious Virginia residents learned the fees applied only to in-state drivers and would add hundreds or thousands of dollars to the cost of some traffic offenses, lawmakers quickly reversed course.
A recent state audit found the fees have not made Virginia roads any safer and might not collect the $65 million they were projected to raise annually.
Del. Dave Albo, R-Springfield, a chief supporter of the fees, said Democrats are pushing the abuser fee repeal to increase the gas tax.
“It’s all part of their effort to create a budget shortfall so they can scream there is an impending disaster out there and we need to raise taxes,” he said Wednesday.
Republicans who support the repeal “don’t care about money for roads,” Albo added.
The change in the 1 percent auto registration fee is supported by the Virginia Auto Dealers Association but opposed by Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer, who argued it would deprive owners the ability to finance the extra fees with the rest of their car.
“Otherwise, they will be forced to stand in lines at their DMV or local government and write a lump sum check that many not be affordable and may be an impediment to the sale of a new or used vehicle,” Homer said this week.
Not all lenders will allow a buyer to finance the 1 percent fee, said Virginia Auto Dealers Association spokesman Michael Allen.
The charge, which also was created as part of last year’s transportation package, applies only to Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads residents and caused confusion among dealers, Allen said.
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:16 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008 re: "Architect of driver fees votes for repeal"
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10:55 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 4, 2008
re: "Dems: Replace abuser fees with gas tax"
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10:44 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 4, 2008
re: "Moves afoot to repeal 'abuser-fees' bill"
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1:38 PM MST on Mon., Jan. 14, 2008
re: "Dems: Replace abuser fees with gas tax"
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7:23 PM MST on Sun., Jan. 13, 2008
re: "Dems: Replace abuser fees with gas tax"
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3:09 PM MST on Sat., Jan. 5, 2008
re: "Va. lawmakers seek stiffer penalties, arrests, prison for unlicensed drivers"
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2:45 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 27, 2007
re: "Va. lawmakers seek stiffer penalties, arrests, prison for unlicensed drivers"
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12:38 AM MST on Thu., Dec. 27, 2007
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6:27 AM MST on Wed., Dec. 26, 2007
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6:07 AM MST on Wed., Dec. 26, 2007
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5:56 AM MST on Wed., Dec. 26, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
Albo has a new scamn now. He just won't give it up
119 agree | 114 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
that's a great idea, lets raise the gas tax.? that way our money will go towards fixing the roads that no one will be able to afford to drive on cause the gas prices are so high. our govt constantly wants to rob peter to pay paul. how about our govt make attempts to fix the problem instead of putting bandages on everything. our economy is down the toilet but everyone seems to want to be in denial about that. grow up people, canada's economy is worth more than ours; our economy is crap. why don't we take responsability for that. it's not canada's fault their govt is not as greedy as ours.
121 agree | 130 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
we need to get off of our lazy american butts and vote all the rich new age Adolf Hitler's out of office. the poor people seem to be the only one's suffering with all these new ignorant laws. if the issue is to raise taxes why do the higher taxes mainly affect the population that barely make enough money to survive. before long there will be no middle class is virginia even though the middle class puts more money back into the economy than the wealthy do. oh that's right the wealthy are the ones making all these stupid laws because they don't want to be the ones paying higher taxes. WHY ARE THE RICH GETTING RICHER AND THE POOR GETTING POORER? Robin Hood might actually be on only one to fix this horrible economy our politicians have put us in.
118 agree | 121 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
albo will have someone run against him sooner or later and when he is voted out,i think he needs to retire,(SHADY PINES )mabe they have a good staff there that can help people when there minds wonder.
140 agree | 125 disagree
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Jim said:
The Albo Fees must go. They cost more in hate than they made the state. If they are not repealed and fees refunded, they will eventualy be ruled unconstitunal
120 agree | 106 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
good....about time.
137 agree | 144 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
These are the guys who came up with the abuser fee idea. Now, anyone whose license is suspended for nonpayment of the abuser fees will be subject to immediate arrest and 30 day impoundment of the vehicle. Guess that got lost in the fine print here. Check out the actual language of HB 91 and HB 123. Also would apply to a teen out driving illegally on a learner's permit. Automatic arrest, fingerprint and photo and the family car? gone for 30 days unless mom and dad can prove they didn't know the kid was driving.
152 agree | 151 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
They are all skanks lead by a chief skank named Albo Time to get the hell out of this state... It will be California east soon enough
157 agree | 131 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
hey david albo what if i forgot to put my liscence in my pocket? oh yeah a heavy heavy unfair fine compliments to a bill you authored, and was passed. you shiesty lawyers keep draining the blood out of all virginians until the point of extinction. screw your bill. just another tactic to swell your bank accounts and those of your greedy lawyer friends!
172 agree | 144 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I think of all the states, VA tends to go a little overboard with the punishments as far as driving privileges...I lived in VA for 2 yrs, I also work for an attorney in VA...the ways VA has found to screw over the "little guy" is unbelievable to me...but I do agree that illegal immigrants cannot continue to get away with driving around with no license, they can't read street signs, cause accidents, etc...I've seen WAY too much of that too, just drive the Beltway...
165 agree | 113 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
With this kind of LAW only the LEGALS will survive, fair enough.
149 agree | 140 disagree
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