News, Armed With Checkbooks and Excuses, First Casualties of Va. Fees Go to Court. (Burke: taxes)

[John1960]

The labor pains were coming, so Jessica Hodges got going. The 26-year-old bank teller from Burke sped toward Inova Fairfax Hospital, but before she got there, the law got her -- 57 mph in a 35 zone. Reckless driving.

Hodges's labor pains subsided -- they turned out to be a false alarm -- but the agony from her ticket is mounting. She was found guilty of the July 3 offense and given a $1,050 civil fee on top of a judge-imposed $100 fine and court costs, making her one of the first to be hit with Virginia's new "abusive driver fees," which have been greeted by widespread public outrage.

"It's crazy," said an unregretful Hodges. "Having a baby's more important. Of course I'm going to speed."

Anger and exasperation have been common sentiments recently in Fairfax General District Court, where fee-facing drivers such as Hodges have started to join the daily swarm of traffic offenders. After waiting hours to give their side of the story to judges -- several of whom seemed just as annoyed with the fees as defendants -- many nevertheless left owing enormous sums that they said would be difficult to pay.

Armed With Checkbooks and Excuses, First Casualties of Va. Fees Go to Court - washingtonpost.com

[Rhett_Butler]

The Abusive Driver Fees are rediculous, but as for Ms. Hodges??? It's called 911 and an ambulance dumba$$. You don't endanger people on the road for your own personal emergency when we have a system for dealing with such an emergency.....

[MW2]

Really for everyone's safety the young lady should have called 911 if she thought she was going into labor and let the ambulance rush her to the hospital. A woman who is panicing and racing to get to the hospital because she is in labor and driving 22 mph over the posted speed limit while experience labor pains, (not easy to concentrate on driving safely while experience labor pains) is putting other lives in danger including her own and her unborn child if she were to have an accident.

The fines are very expensive and definitely would not make meeting monthly bills any easier, so why don't people just slow down and not break the law?

This of course is just my opinion/thoughts on the subject but it just seems easier to just not do 80mph when the speed limit is 55, and safer too.

Thanks for posting the interesting article.

[MW2]

oops I see Vafury posted about calling 911 too, I guess I type slower than I thought.

[VaNative]

I can't imagine why the state would pass this law knowing it doesn't include out of state drivers but only Virginia residents! I'm glad I don't live there anymore!

[MW2]

You are right, it should apply to all drivers if they truly want to keep the states roads safe!

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by VaNative

I can't imagine why the state would pass this law knowing it doesn't include out of state drivers but only Virginia residents! I'm glad I don't live there anymore!

Totally agree... Just moved from Florida and that's one area where I think Florida has it right over Virginia. Florida milks tourists and visitors and those NOT from Florida to fill it's coffers while Virginia taxes and fines it's own citizens into the dirt.....