<p>It is harsh, but then again…twenty miles over is a fair amount on most roads. There are a few where people regularly travel above the speed limit but in the right lanes I doubt it’s twenty over. So people do have a choice here. I personally haven’t really found myself in any situations where a driver had to drive twenty miles over, although granted there’s a ton of traffic here. I know someone who engaged in that on a street that wasn’t as heavily trafficked and just totaled their car when a car they didn’t see coming over a hill stopped for a deer. Still, there are cases where it wouldn’t potentially be THAT bad, especially some rural highways where there isn’t traffic, but then again these laws are much more likely to be enforced in heavily trafficked areas. </p>
<p>I do think that stricter DUI/DWI punishments are needed to try and keep people from reoffending, although at the same time I’m not sure fines will do that, maybe, maybe not. But people aren’t caught much by checkpoints. I just read a report of a recent checkpoint in my area, out of several hundred cars no DUIs, a few driving without registration, and one outstanding warrant. </p>
<p>I have heard a lot of people are threatening to move to Md and stuff which seems a little silly, but okay.</p>
<p>This is the most asinine piece of legislation EVER. It’s absolutely ridiculous especially considering that “reckless driving” in the state of Virginia is a catch-all offense. For example, if you forget to use your turning signal - RECKLESS DRIVING. </p>
<p>Virginia has crappy roads anyway. Maybe if they didn’t have privately owned toll roads they wouldn’t have to worry about the blatantly offensive nature of these new laws. </p>
<p>On the 495 the speed limit most everywhere is 55 MPH. That includes straight driving with four-five lanes on a divided highway. I think they keep the maximum speed limit so low so they can target more people. </p>
<p>I’m so glad I don’t have a Virginia driving license so they can’t f*k me over with these new laws. I NEVER plan on becoming a resident of this state. They hate their own people.</p>
<p>Believe me, people are in an uproar down here. The interesting part is that out of state drivers are not subject to these new fees and penalties. They expect the General Assembly to reconsider this aspect of the law in January. If the law applied equally to all drivers, whether or not they were Virginia residents, I would say it is a good idea. We need improved transportation and roads here in Virginia.</p>
<p>hahahahaha. I’m from NoVa (northern VA), and let me tell you, we’re hating life. Not only do we have horrible roads, have to deal with the Mixing Bowl which has taken 12 YEARS to finish, pay ridiculous taxes, deal with the extension of Metro that will never be finished, put up with the Toll Road that is always backed up, I-81 (the stupid trucks and the speed limits that change every 10mi so you get a ticket because “I didn’t know it changed…again” doesn’t fly as an excuse), AND deal with VDOT that 99.9% of VA’s problems are due to its stupidity, but now THIS?</p>
<p>Wonderful, I hope I get a reckless ticket for not using my turn signal. Insurance companies will now have two policies: “VA drivers” and “non-VA drivers”. VA-drivers will be given a 5 point handicap which will show up on a bill as “Handicap For Your S***ty Laws”.</p>
<p>My question is why the heck arn’t they getting OOS drivers too? The fees are applied to IS only because they attach the fees to your driver’s license and you pay when you renew it (which means people could pay as much as 5-years later…awesome!). But dangit, sooo many OOS drivers drive through here complaining about the roads, we should make them pay up too.</p>
<p>Yep, I live in the Shenandoah Valley along the I-81 corridor- truck central. I vote for heavier fines and fees for all the trucks that make driving 81 a nightmare. Basically Virginia is saying to out of staters go ahead and keep breaking the laws! NoVA is a nightmare for transportation. Our local roads are a mess because we can’t get funding and when we do get funded it takes forever to see any improvement. There’s no easy solution, but Virginians shouldn’t carry this burden alone.</p>
<p>Hahahahahaha. The REAL motive comes out. What a dolt. I bet that’ll be real awkward…
Albo: “So, why did you require my services to represent you?”
VA driver: “You’re stupid $%$#@%%@# law got me a reckless ticket for not using my turn signal you moron!”</p>
<p>I hope anyone who gets a traffic violation, regardless of whether its under this law or not, doesn’t hire him. Maybe he’ll go bankrupt and have to move to Wyoming and tend to cows for the rest of his life and he won’t be able to make anymore stupid laws.</p>
<p>Also, I have a feeling this will contribute to road rage. People will see a cop, worry about being pulled over, then think of this law, and go nuts. Any takers?</p>
<p>Sabaray: agreed. They’re called INTERstate roads for a reason.</p>
<p>I haven’t heard anyone “up in arms” around here, and I keep an eye on the political blogs. One news anchor couldn’t help but point out that someone who gets pulled over for a moving violation could pay higher fees than someone who gets a DUI. </p>
<p>If more people kept an eye on the legislature and wrote/called when bills were introduced, we might not see them get through the process. I wish all Virginians would read [Richmond</a> Sunlight](<a href=“http://www.richmondsunlight.com/]Richmond”>http://www.richmondsunlight.com/) daily when the state gov’t was in session. Since that site came online, I’ve written at least a dozen emails to our reps (and have gotten replies to many).</p>
<p>Well I’m up in arms - I moved to VA in January and haven’t gotten a VA license yet. Now I think I’m going to make sure that I always have ties to the state I moved from and never, ever get a VA license. They sure don’t exactly make the prospect exciting… </p>
<p>As far as funding goes - Why did Virginia SELL the toll roads to private parties? That would have been a GIGANTIC revenue builder. Jacka*es. </p>
<p>Sure - the roads aren’t great around here. I live in Northern Virginia and drive to DC and other hotspots all the time. But you know what? This law is just dumb. If I were a traffic cop I’d be feeling really awful and scared right about now and investing in an extra deadlock for the home door. People are crazy. </p>
<p>Thanks for the link Dean J - I’ll take a look at it. Everyone else should too - Dean J makes a good point. The people who make these laws are our ELECTED representatives. They don’t just get to do what they want but if we don’t tell them loud and clear our opinions then that gives them free rein. On that note, also check out SaveNetRadio.org</p>
<p>I live in MD but drive a lot in VA. If I get a ticket in VA then will I still have the massive fines because I have a MD license or does it not matter?</p>
<p>We live in the suburbs of Richmond and drive the I-95 corridor frequently. I’ve noticed that traffic generally moves at either 80 mph or increasingly, 20 mph. It seems that 9 out of 10 of the zoomers flying through traffic have NC plates. I don’t see how these new “fines” will encourage the state troopers to pull over the reckless out of staters in favor of the VA cars moving at a steady 85 or 86 (75 or 76 in the 55 zone).
Around here it seems like the politicians bow to the developers who get to pack in subdivisions with 10 mcmansions to an acre and after the developers have moved on to their next project the issue of overcrowded roads and schools begins to get addressed. So the developers make their fortunes and the working class residents get to pay for the necessary infastructure.
The DUI/DWI fines are okay by me; they could even quadruple them and I’d be okay with it. There are daily fatalities here due to irresponsible drinkers of all ages and that needs to stop. Maybe this will wake up parents of teens to be a bit more inquisitive of where their kids are going and tighten the prevalent attitude around here that it’s okay for teens to have house parties with alcohol (many of these hosted while parents are home).
Sorry, I’m venting after sitting in non-moving traffic to get from the local middle school to our home while more roads get widened.</p>
<p>All developers are required to do “Traffic Impact Studies” when they build new communities. VDOT reviews all these. If a road needs to be widened, according to these studies, the developer has to pay for it. Likewise, if they need a new traffic signal, the developer has to pay for it.</p>
<p>It’s not that VDOT lets them run wild, it’s just that VDOT operates at such a slow pace that it often hard to notice progress.</p>
<p>(I do work with - not for, but with - VDOT on stuff like this)</p>
<p>Anyone have any experience with citations in Botetourt County (court is in Fincastle)? I am told the judge (Campbell) is very strict and anything over 90mph gets jail time. Relevant speed limit on I 81 was 65. (save the lectures-that’s not my point in asking)</p>