R.I.P. Abuser Fees.

DEMOCRATIC SENATE MAJORITY SUCCESSFULLY REPEALS ABUSIVE DRIVER FEES

Caucus Makes Good on Its Pledge to Repeal and Refund Abusive Driver Fees

(Richmond, Va.) - Senate Democrats successfully passed Senate Bill 1 30-10, sponsored by Sen. Edd Houck, (D-Spotsylvania).  It earlier passed the House of Delegates 98-1.

In July, House Speaker Bill Howell was flanked by then Senate Majority leader Walter Stosch declaring their desire not to repeal the civil remedial fees but to "fix" them.

Meanwhile, Democratic Senators were mounting efforts to repeal the legislation.

Senator Edward Houck (D-Spotsylvania) began working on the repeal in July, composing an official letter stating his plan to repeal the abusive driver fees and later contacting the Senate Clerk's office to begin drafting Senate Bill 1, which repeals the abusive driver fees.

"Today completes our efforts to repeal one of the biggest mistakes I have seen this General Assembly make," Senator Houck said.   'These fees are not the right way to go.'  The repeal is now on its way to the Governor's desk."

In addition to repealing the fees, the bill also includes a mechanism to refund those already assessed an abusive driver fee.

Senator Roscoe Reynolds (D-Henry) deputy floor leader and member of the conference committee which reported Senate Bill 1, noted that repealing the abusive driver fees was a legislative priority for the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus.

"We came into this session with clear goals and priorities which included repealing the abusive driver fees.  These fees originally passed because legislators where looking for a quick fix on transportation.  They wanted to try and hide fees and assess them on people who wouldn't notice.  This was a bad piece of legislation and I'm glad we were able to correct this problem and repeal the abusive driver fees," Reynolds said.

Newly elected Senator Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax City) was also a member of the conference committee between the Senate and the House.

"This is a clean repeal and sets up a streamlined process to refund these fees," Petersen said.  "We worked together as a team to get this thing done, and now we look forward to working on a real plan to fix our transportation problems."

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