The Good, the Bad, and the Utterly Ridiculous Bills of 2008- Part 1

By: James Martin
Published On: 12/26/2007 2:54:18 PM

Just two weeks until Session and the bills just continue to flow in. Below are just a sampling with more coming- but here are 7 to start:

THE GOOD!

HB12  and SB 24 (Glenn Oder- R and Roscoe Reynolds- D): Payday lending charges; establishes maximum annual interest rate.
Caps payday lenders at 36%... A number of similar bills died last year- but nonetheless- this should definitely be a priority!

HB26 (Lacey Putney- I): Civil remedial fees on certain drivers; repealed.
This has been introduced by many others- but Lacey Putney chairs the Appropriations committee- So the fact that he has introduced the bill makes a big difference.

HB39 (Jim Scott- D): Wireless telecommunications device; prohibits use of text messaging while driving certain vehicles.
Everyone from my generation does it (including myself)... and it's exceptionally dangerous- So this is a great bill :)


THE BAD!

HB20 (Bob Marshall- R): Voter registration applications; proof of citizenship.
By far the worst bill of 2008- Make sure to have your Passport, Birth Certificate, and when applicable your naturalization documents, Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number, or tribal enrollment number when you register to vote.

HB20 (Scott Lingamfelter- R): Primary elections; voter registration by political party.
Virginians don't want party registration!- If it ain't broken- don't fix it

THE UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!

HJ27 (Tom Wright- R): Valentines, Virginia Day (the place); designating as February 14, 2008, and each succeeding year thereafter.
Maybe bills like this is why I've never heard of a Delegate Tom Wright? Seriously though- I recommend everyone read through the bill... Its a mini-history lesson on Valentines, Virginia.

Comments



Valuable info -- and is Albo on the rampage? (PM - 12/26/2007 3:40:20 PM)
I agree with the text messaging bill's intent.  Thanks for alerting us to these bills.

This item has made fark.com:

http://www.thenewspaper.com/ne...

Virginia Legislator Introduces More Remedial Fee Legislation
Traffic lawyer Dave Albo offers legislation to increase penalties on motorists whose licenses are suspended by increased fees on speeding tickets.

Dave AlboDespite the public outrage at the imposition of the civil remedial fee speeding ticket tax, Virginia Delegate David B Albo (R-Springfield) is proposing to boost penalties further on those already subjected to the tax. Earlier this month Albo filed House Bill 91, a measure designed to "crack down" on unlicensed drivers. It will be considered in the new legislative session which begins in January.

Is this Albo's attempt to get more criminal defense business?



British approach to text messaging (PM - 12/26/2007 3:52:45 PM)
The British approach seems to be that if one causes an accident while using a mobile device, one may be charged with a more serious offense than typical.  I am offering this by way of information only.  I have not reached a conclusion on whether or not this is a good approach.  http://driving.timesonline.co....

Sir Ken Macdonald, QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said in September when announcing the policy change: "We accept that in cases where there is clear evidence that danger has been caused by their [mobile phones] use - such as texting while driving - then our policy should spell out that the starting point for charging will be dangerous driving."

Current guidelines say that manslaughter is "very rarely appropriate" in road death cases but the change will mean alternative charges could be brought against a motorist.

Someone who has killed on the roads could be charged with manslaughter as well as causing death by dangerous driving, for example, leaving a jury open to return the lower charge if it finds manslaughter has not been proved.

Rob Gifford, the executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory for Transport Safety, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's not every single driver using a mobile phone while driving who faces jail, it's those few drivers whose behaviour leads them to have a crash when they are using a mobile at the same time.



HB14 (Timothy Watson - 12/27/2007 1:59:35 AM)
HB14: Institutions of higher education; aliens unlawfully present not eligible for admission thereto.

Chief Patron
Del. Chris Peace (R-97)

Status
11/27/2007: Introduced

Summary
Admission of illegal aliens to public institutions of higher education.  Provides that an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible for admission to any public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth.