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Virginia is for lovers, or so the state slogan has declared since 1969. Starting today, Virginia also will be the home of the $3,000 traffic ticket. In an effort to raise money for road projects, the state will start hitting residents who commit serious traffic offenses with huge civil penalties.

 

Beginning Sunday, Virginia is adding new civil charges to traffic fines. They range from $750 to $3,000 and will be added to existing fines and court costs. The civil penalty for going 20 mph over the speed limit will be $1,050, plus $61 in court costs and a fine that is typically about $200.

The new civil charges range from $750 to $3,000 and be added to existing fines and court costs. The civil penalty for going 20 mph over the speed limit will be $1,050, plus $61 in court costs and a fine that is typically about $200.

 

Virginia's traffic law is one of several thousand new state laws that take effect Sunday. Jan. 1 and July 1 are the most popular dates for state laws to become official.

 

July 1 is especially popular for new taxes and fees because it's the start of the budget year in 46 states. For example, Arkansas will cut its sales tax on groceries from 6% to 3% Sunday.

 

Virginia's new traffic penalties are expected to raise $65 million a year and are part of an effort to improve the state's roads without raising taxes.

 

A first-time drunken driver will face a $2,250 civil penalty, plus fines and court costs that typically run about $500 or more. Driving without a license? That's a mandatory $900 civil penalty, in addition to the ordinary $100 for a fine and court costs.

 

"It's outrageous," says traffic court attorney Thaddeus Furlong of Springfield, Va. "When Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class find out what they have to pay, there's going to be a backlash like you've never seen."

 

Some other states impose extra civil penalties for traffic offenses, but the cost is usually $100 or $200, Furlong says. "What sets this apart is the Draconian size of the civil penalties," he says.

 

Another difference: The civil penalties apply only to Virginia residents, not out-of-state drivers. Virginians must pay in three installments over 26 months or lose their licenses. The state Legislature didn't think it could enforce the extra penalties in other states.

 

Motorist club AAA Mid-Atlantic supports the new penalties.

 

"These penalties are harsh, but normal fines haven't gotten people to drive sanely. Maybe this will," says Lon Anderson, spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

 

He says the new law will help reduce the nearly 1,000 traffic deaths the state records annually.

 

"We wish motorists didn't have to pay more, but the fact is Virginia's transportation trust fund is broke," Anderson says.

I thought Virginia was widely known already for being a huge pain when it comes to tickets. I mean, when you drive through there on 95 there are signs everywhere that say "Speed Controlled By Aircraft" or something like that. I've definitely heard my share of stories.

 

And I mean, it works pretty well because it's pretty much the only place I'm super careful not to speed based on reputation alone...

I thought Virginia was widely known already for being a huge pain when it comes to tickets. I mean, when you drive through there on 95 there are signs everywhere that say "Speed Controlled By Aircraft" or something like that. I've definitely heard my share of stories.

 

And I mean, it works pretty well because it's pretty much the only place I'm super careful not to speed based on reputation alone...

It's also the only state (unless DC counts) that outright bans the use of radar detectors.

 

It's official: Virginia sucks.

Heard about this on the radio the other day. It's ridiculous. I can't wait to get out of this state.

 

I do agree with the DD penalty though. Wouldn't mind it to be higher...

 

There's also a new law if you have a certain amount of points on your license by the end of the year it's a huge fine.

 

The worst part is, I feel like VA cops give out more tickets especially on 95. I'd love to see the numbers, but every 1/2 mile there's a 'restricted spot' in the median for cops to sit and it really isn't that way in any other state. Friends who drive up from the north to get to school have gotten so many tickets in VA but not anywhere else.

 

I dunno. I have my doubts that this would reduce the amount of deaths significantly. It's just a cheap way to get a bunch of money.

I usually dont got any faster than 10 mph over the speed limit.

 

I see nothing wrong with this.

 

Whatever way you want to spin it your breaking the law and putting other people in danger by going at such high speeds. Maybe some of these speeders will learn a lesson when they get a $1,000 ticket.

The worst part is, I feel like VA cops give out more tickets especially on 95. I'd love to see the numbers, but every 1/2 mile there's a 'restricted spot' in the median for cops to sit and it really isn't that way in any other state. Friends who drive up from the north to get to school have gotten so many tickets in VA but not anywhere else.

Very true. My suitemates and a few other friends were driving back from DC and were stopped by a speedtrap in Spottsylvania, got the car searched and were all caught for weed possession.

 

Virginia sucks.

I usually dont got any faster than 10 mph over the speed limit.

 

I see nothing wrong with this.

 

Whatever way you want to spin it your breaking the law and putting other people in danger by going at such high speeds. Maybe some of these speeders will learn a lesson when they get a $1,000 ticket.

 

Meh, most of the people speed on the highway....if the cops were smart they'd stop the mass amount of idiots who run red lights instead.

I usually go 10-15 mph over the limit. But like anyone else, I can lose track and go about 20 over. But that doesn't mean I'm reckless. It's one thing if they went after people who go well over 20 and others are not going that fast. But Virginia cops are dicks and they will pull anyone who goes even close over.

 

A thousand bucks is a ton of money. It's really excessive, especially for people that can't afford that kind of hit on their bank account.

 

But it won't get overturned for excessive punishment. How many things really get overturned for excessive punishment? It's extremely rare.

I usually go 10-15 mph over the limit. But like anyone else, I can lose track and go about 20 over. But that doesn't mean I'm reckless. It's one thing if they went after people who go well over 20 and others are not going that fast. But Virginia cops are dicks and they will I pull anyone who goes even close over.

 

A thousand bucks is a ton of money. It's really excessive, especially for people that can't afford that kind of hit on their bank account.

 

But it won't get overturned for excessive punishment. How many things really get overturned for excessive punishment? It's extremely rare.

 

I have no sympathy for someone who gets pulled over for speeding and cant afford it.

 

Solution= dont speed.

 

Hell you dont even have to go the exact speed limit, most cops in most states and cities dont pull you over unless your going over 10-15 mph or in VA case over 20 mph.

 

If the speed limit is 60 mph do you really need to be going over 80mph?

The worst part is, I feel like VA cops give out more tickets especially on 95. I'd love to see the numbers, but every 1/2 mile there's a 'restricted spot' in the median for cops to sit and it really isn't that way in any other state. Friends who drive up from the north to get to school have gotten so many tickets in VA but not anywhere else.

Very true. My suitemates and a few other friends were driving back from DC and were stopped by a speedtrap in Spottsylvania, got the car searched and were all caught for weed possession.

 

Virginia sucks.

 

Because possessing marijuana is only illegal here? :rolleyes:

I've always had trouble with speeding tickets being blanketed for every type of cituation. Going 20 over in a residential area should be much worse then on a highway. Same with speeding in a nearly deserted area. I got a ticket for going 62 in a 45 at about 1:30 in the morning in an absolutely deserted area. Total horse sh*t. I'm absolutely endangering no one in that situation.

 

I do like to see drunk driving laws getting tightened. We are far too lax in that area as a country (not saying laws shouldn't vary by state) when it comes to the punishment and stopping those that break the law. I'd like to see more troopers looking out for DD's then speeders going ~10-15 mph over.

I do like to see drunk driving laws getting tightened. We are far too lax in that area as a country (not saying laws shouldn't vary by state) when it comes to the punishment and stopping those that break the law. I'd like to see more troopers looking out for DD's then speeders going ~10-15 mph over.

 

+1

If it consoles any of you, I have had Sheriffs flash their lights at me on some Leon County roads when I first moved to Tallahassee to tell me I was going too slow at 45 MPH. Apparently, I should have been going 55-60 MPH.

 

Hooray for street signage!

 

However, I-75 is my personal autobahn. The 75 signs are speed minimum biatches!

Well, I guess it's either tax hikes or excessive fines, because something has to pay for the transportation infrastructure.

 

And who here isn't guilty of driving at 70-80 MPH on the Turnpike?

I've always had trouble with speeding tickets being blanketed for every type of cituation. Going 20 over in a residential area should be much worse then on a highway. Same with speeding in a nearly deserted area. I got a ticket for going 62 in a 45 at about 1:30 in the morning in an absolutely deserted area. Total horse sh*t. I'm absolutely endangering no one in that situation.

 

I do like to see drunk driving laws getting tightened. We are far too lax in that area as a country (not saying laws shouldn't vary by state) when it comes to the punishment and stopping those that break the law. I'd like to see more troopers looking out for DD's then speeders going ~10-15 mph over.

Totally agreed on all counts.

 

And I wouldn't be shocked if this gets overturned on the grounds of who is being cited.

I've always had trouble with speeding tickets being blanketed for every type of cituation. Going 20 over in a residential area should be much worse then on a highway. Same with speeding in a nearly deserted area. I got a ticket for going 62 in a 45 at about 1:30 in the morning in an absolutely deserted area. Total horse sh*t. I'm absolutely endangering no one in that situation.

 

I do like to see drunk driving laws getting tightened. We are far too lax in that area as a country (not saying laws shouldn't vary by state) when it comes to the punishment and stopping those that break the law. I'd like to see more troopers looking out for DD's then speeders going ~10-15 mph over.

Totally agreed on all counts.

 

And I wouldn't be shocked if this gets overturned on the grounds of who is being cited.

 

Just curious, but what grounds?

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