New VA laws?

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/18/1818.asp

 

WOW just another way for them to Pick our pockets. God I hate pigs.

 

I heard about this greedy, self-serving (for the representative) law coming down the pipe a few months ago, from the National Motorists Association. The hope was that it would be defeated - very disappointing that it made it in. I just hope that someone gets caught with deep enough pockets who realizes how much of a sham it is, and tries to get it struck down on constitutional grounds or otherwise.

Disgusting.

 

I'll make my Mini back to stock.

 

I didn't see anything in the article about farm animals

It seems to me that the Virginia legislature is who you need to upset with, not the folks who have to enforce the laws that are passed.

 

You might want to read some details here not related to speeding.

 

http://www.bobbattlelaw.com/library/...%20hb_3202.pdf

 

Thats the link I quoted above you

 

I do not see how those fines could be constitutional. I too agree that the Virginia legislators are clearly pigs & I hope the locals see that anyone who voted "yes" isn't reelected

 

Constituional? Under what part of the US Constitution do local State laws apply Cruel and unusual punishment Nah ... dont apply

STATES RIGHTS Federal government can't mess with the rights of states

 

Thank you for upsetting all our law enforcement that own MINIs. I really get upset when people refer to law enforcement as "pigs."

We all have been a little guilty of speeding - if you choose to speed you pay. That's the bottom line. As the winner of four felony citations I learned my lesson in Massachusetts going warp speed next to an Audi S4. I'll never do that again. Driving is a privilege not a right.

 

Why do you jump to conclusions & assume Putz was talking about cops. I assumed they were calling the legislators pigs, you know as in greedy pigs.

 

STATE Constitutions.

FWIW, state law cases are often heard in the US Supreme Court. The cases start out at the state level and work their way up the legal ladder until heard at the Supreme Court, where the law is determined to be constitutional or unconstitutional. That determination is done using the US Constitution as the guide.

 

Since when is a "moving violation" a felony? Felonies are murder, rape, armed robbery, etc....
The government has no control over the law-abiding. The only way to bring them under control is to make everything a crime. (with apologies to Claire Wolfe).
The best thing to do in this situation is to call for a recall of everyone who voted for this mess. WE are the people. The Gov is our servant. Anyone who tries to convince you otherwise is looking to pad their own pockets.

 

To be honest, I didn't see your post until now...

I'm fairly certain that you posted your link while I was googling the Virginia Code to read up on it...

 

Don't speed and you won't have an issue with it....

In Ontario, Canada, we are starting to crack down on speeding and street racing. There have been 3 major accidents related to racing in the last week. Closing the 400 Hwy, a major artery out of Toronto to Cottage Country.

I have still not found if the car crushing is law yet, but last year they crushed 2 cars that were caught street racing.

I personally don't think that the speeding laws are enough to deter people from speeding.. A car is a deadly weapon, and can kill, well HAS killed.

The most recent accident a trucker died when he was side-swiped by a racing mustang, lost control, and swerved away from the centre median and away from oncoming traffic. He ended up in the ditch, and died on scene. The kids driving the 2 cars face 5 charges each. Dangerous driving causing death, and some others, they are in their 20's. They were celebrating at Wasaga Beach after finals... the 2 drives are in jail, and will be until Fri. Personally they should be charged with some sort of Murder...

They CHOSE to speed, they CHOSE to drive dangerously.. one of the occupants said that it was an accident... accidents are things that cannot be avoided.

So what if people think that it is a cash grab, they will have nothing to worry about if they are not speeding and braking the laws...

My dad just told me about 2 Corvettes that were racing up the 400 again today. They were from America.. and I know this for sure, that vehicles can be impounded for 7 days on the spot by the police, if caught racing. I Can't find any print on it yet though.

do I speed? yes I do now and again... and I pay for it when I get caught..

J

 

The category of a crime (infraction, misdemeaner, felony) is determined by the people who make the laws. A moving violation becomes a felony when a law is passed saying it is a felony.

 

man thats why I hate driving in VA .. those god damned bastards

 

IANAL, but I'm trying to read the actual documents and determine what they are saying:

For what it's worth, speeding 20mph over the limit has been a 'reckless driving' offense for many years.

If you read the pdf linked above, you see that speeding 20 over limit and speeding over 80 are misdemeanors as well as felonies. I need to do more research, but it sounds like your 'over 80' speeding ticket is only a felony if you have a record to justify changing from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Is there anyone more informed on this subject who can shed some more light on it?

 

I breezed through the second link (first didn't work thank you) to see the one infraction for 3 grand, must be a combo meal. If you dish yourself up a crap sandwich, you will choke on it in VA.

Come on people, don't you know the government is short on cash? Besides, how else are they going to reduce criminal behavior? It is really stupid to pass on a crest, while drunk, on a suspended license.

Isn't this topic considered political?

 

That is correct. It becomes a felony if you are a repeat offender.

I think these fines are way, way out of line. I'm all for safer roads, but this just seems like a random shakedown. Give me a radar gun and I'll show you hundreds of cars per hour going 80+ on I-95. I see a lot more wrecks in the 30-mph stop-and-go here in NoVA than I do on the rural interstate. If the state wants to increase revenue, I'd suggest a simple gas tax.

I strongly suggest that all of you VA residents send a note to your delegate and senator expressing that these fines are unreasonably high. You can easily submit a note HERE.

Paste in my text if you want:

(Put your name at the end, obviously...)

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

Great idea. Done.

 

YIKES! Makes me think twice about having motoring days down in Va!

 

This sounds pretty much like the "assessments" in NJ. There, you don't have to be a repeat offender. Fines of approx. $300 are assessed for 3 years AND your insurance rates AND surcharges go up.

 

Crazy. The part that scares me is not being caught on a Interstate at 20 over. It's places on back roads where it drops from 45 to 25, or some roads that aren't signed often that any sane person would assume is a 45, that turns out to be 25...

Why don't they concentrate on enforcing laws we already have? Like stopping for bloody red lights! The 5th car I watched roll through a red light yesterday was a police car! I flashed my highs and blew my horn at em, and he either shook his fist at me or gave me the finger. I'm not sure which. He not only rolled through but didn't care about the 4 in front of him that did either.

He wasn't on a call either as I then got the 'clear' green and followed him up the GW parkway for a couple miles.