Here's a press release from the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus on repeal of the most brilliant law ever enacted in Virginia history. Heh. By the way, Sen. Barker, you say that you "stood up for what we thought was right" on this bill; I presume you'll do the same for Chap's Clean Energy Future Act? No offense, but the future of our planet is just a weeeeeeeeee bit more important than some idiotic (good riddance!) abusive driver fees. Oh, and I don't mean to pick on Sen. Barker particularly here; I hope to see EVERYONE supporting this crucial bill by Sen. Petersen!
VIRGINIA SENATE PASSES REPEAL OF ABUSIVE DRIVER FEESAmendments Attached To Refund Those Already Assessed Fees
(Richmond, Va.) - The Virginia Senate passed legislation today to repeal the unpopular abusive driver fees.
Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senator Edward Houck (D-Spotsylvania), repeals section 46.2-206.1 of the Code of Virginia also known as the abusive driver fees. The fees were included as part of last year's transportation package, House Bill 3202.
"Today we remove one of the biggest mistakes I have seen this legislature make," Senator Edward Houck, chief patron of the bill, said. "The people have spoken loudly that they wanted these fees gone, and that is what we have done."
Several other Democratic Senators - George Barker (Fairfax), Creigh Deeds (Bath), Mark Herring (Loudoun) and Chap Petersen (Fairfax City) -were added as patrons to the bill."Obviously this issue was front and center during my campaign," Senator Barker, one of the newest members of the Virginia Senate, said. "My constituents were watching, and today we stood up for what we thought was right and repealed the abusive driver fees."
Senator Deeds agreed this was an issue watched closely by many Virginians.
"This was one of the first issues many of us wanted to tackle when we started the General Assembly session. We voted today to undo one of the most unpopular pieces of legislation in Virginia's history," Senator Deeds said.
Senators Linda "Toddy" Puller (D-Fairfax), Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), Roscoe Reynolds (D-Martinsville) and Chuck Colgan (D-Prince William) and Chap Petersen also introduced legislation to repeal the abusive driver fees.
"This issue is about fairness. It was to about repealing legislation that treated Virginias differently than non-Virginians. These abuser fees where the wrong approach and needed to be repealed," Senator Reynolds said.
"As I drove throughout my district talking to people, this issue came up time and time again. They talked about how unfair it was and how much they hated it," Senator Lucas said. "I knew heading into session this year something needed be done and that is why I introduced my bill. I am pleased to be able to tell my constituents that we have gotten rid of the abusive driver fees."
Senator Puller agreed the abusive driver fees where an important issue in her district.
"This issue was of real concern to my constituents. We needed to not only repeal, but work to refund those who have already paid a fee," Senator Puller said.
Democratic Senators worked in a bi-partisan fashion with Senator Kenneth Stolle (R-Virginia Beach) to draft and pass amendments to refund the fines paid by those who have been assessed an abusive driver fee.
In addition, an emergency clause was added to the bill to ensure the repeal goes into effect immediately after being passed through the House of Delegates and signed by the Governor.
"This is a clean repeal. It puts the burden on us to contact those who were convicted under the statute. It sets up a streamlined process to refund these fees and clarifies that no one will lose their license for failure to pay an abuser fee," Senator Chap Petersen said on the floor of the Senate speaking in favor of the amendments.
"We worked together as a team to get this thing done, and it goes to show you can get a lot done when don't care who gets the credit," he said.
Senator Herring agreed these amendments were necessary to make a clean repeal of the abusive driver fees.
"It was important that we made sure the law applied equally to everyone. It wasn't enough to repeal the fees, we needed to wipe the slate clean and repeal this legislation as quickly as possible and refund those who have already been assessed a fine," Senator Herring said.
The Democratic majority made repealing the abusive driver fees as one of their legislative priorities at the start of the General Assembly Session.
"As a caucus we promised we would repeal the abusive driver fees and today we delivered on that pledge," Senator Phillip Puckett (D-Russell), vice-chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said.
Senator Houck spoke to his bill on the floor of the Senate urging Senators to pass it unanimously.
"This was the wrong way to fund transportation...and today is the day we correct all that," he said.
The bill was passed 39 - 0 in the Senate with Senator Ken Cuccinelli (R-Fairfax) not voting. It now moves on to the House of Delegates for passage.