Brian Moran on Abuser Fees: "It's time for their repeal."

MORAN ANNOUNCES 'ABUSIVE DRIVER FEE REPEAL'

~petition author, Bryan Ault, supports repeal effort~

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran announced legislation to repeal the Abusive Driver Fee's in this session of the General Assembly. Brian has consistently opposed the abuser fees since their first introduction several years ago. Yesterday's release of a report from the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission confirmed that the fees have been ineffective and today Brian announced his legislation to repeal the fees and refund those drivers unfairly taxed. Last summer over 180,000 Virginians signed petitions in opposition to these fees.

"We have said all along that these fee's are a Washington-style gimmick that wouldn't stand the test of time. They don't make our roads safer, fail to generate real money for transportation, and turn our police officers in to tax collectors," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran "It's time for their repeal. I hope my Republican colleagues will join my efforts in opposition to these fees."

The report, released yesterday, said that the fees program could lead to 137,000 drivers'-license suspensions by the end of June 2008 and to 181,000 more in the next fiscal year.

"The people spoke in this falls elections when proponents of the fees were defeated, and the research now confirm that these fees provide no real safety benefit on the roadways," said Moran. "It's time we end the unfair taxation on only Virginia drivers."

The JLARC report said the fees could fall well short of a $65 million-a-year goal. They cited collection procedural differences, uncertainty over the penalties, and discretion of police and judges.

"These findings are unfortunate, but not surprising because the 'abusive driver fees' were never intended as a traffic safety solution.  The fees are failing in Virginia in the same way similar measures have failed in other states, and they must be fully repealed.  I fully support Delegate Moran's efforts to repeal the 'abusive driver fees' and refund money to the Virginia motorists who have already been unfairly penalized with these fees," said Bryan Ault, the author of the online petition that garnered 180,000 signatures.

In 2004, Michigan enacted fees that have generated around 1/3 of what was anticipated in revenue and judges are calling for their repeal because they are seeing dramatic increases in the number of drivers cited for driving with suspended licenses. "I think it is a very destructive piece of legislation that is designed primarily for revenue purposes and is disguised as a highway safety measure," said William C. Buhl, a Circuit Court judge in Van Buren County, Mich. "In my opinion, it increases the dangers on the highways because it creates an enormous, growing pool of unlicensed motorists." (Washington Post, July 24, 2007) As well, in Texas, a 2007 study showed that the program was failing because of the inability of the offenders to pay the fees.

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