Bill Bolling Endorses Repeal of Abuser Fees

In a bit of straight up Virginia news, LG Bill Bolling is endorsing the repeal of abusive driver fees. He sent a letter to his colleauge encouraging such action, reading in part,

". . . it is my belief that the abusive driver fees should be repealed. While it may be possible to address some of the concerns that have been raised, such as those discussed above, through revisions to the 2007 legislation, I believe that would be a mistake. While this was the most noble of efforts, it simply has not worked out the way it was intended, and it has become terribly unpopular in the public eye. That is why I favor the total repeal of the abusive driver fees, as opposed to their modification.

I am pleased to report that Delegate Lacey Putney, Delegate Mark Cole and Senator Ken Cuccinelli have agreed to introduce legislation calling for repeal of the abusive driver fees. Other legislators will most likely introduce similar legislation. I encourage you to sign on as a co-patron of this legislation and give it your support during this year’s legislative session."

Its an interesting dicotomy. The entire Democrat Party is basically united in repealing this law, but they are joined by the right wing of the Republicans who saw the entire Transportation Bill as a huge tax hike. I have a weird feeling that bill is going to get taken apart bit by bit. The real question is what the Governor will do.

More from the DCPost:

Bolling's effort could give him a leg up with some conservative activists who have been critical of last year's transportation deal that include the fees.

Bolling's potential rival for the GOP nomination, Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell (R), played a key role in forging the transportation deal. As the state's chief lawyer, McDonnell's office was also forced to defend the fees in court this summer.

But McDonnell is also having second thoughts about the fees.

J. Tucker Martin, a McDonnell spokesman, said today the attorney general supports either "significant modications" or an "outright repeal" of the fees.

Comments

[Virginia Patriot]

I say CHEERS to Lieutenant Governor Bolling for clearly stating to any and all concerned that he is firmly behind repealing these ridiculous fees. A recent study (reported on WRVA) showed statistical proof that these abusive driver fees have done nothing to make Virginia roads 'safer'. There was no decrease in speeding tickets, reckless driving tickets etc. this year as a result of this asinine legislation. The L.G. has always been open about the fact that he opposes this tax, and any unnecessary taxing on the citizens of the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, A.G. McDonnell did support this hike, and probably with good reason... a law firm he has connections with in Virginia Beach directly profits from these tickets (See National Review online - The Corner - for news on this). While the case can be made that he has no direct tie to this firm or these profits, it certainly doesn't look good.
As for the L.G.'s efforts to see these fees disappear - I say THANK YOU.

[Chris Beer]

VP, I think thats incredibly unfair. I supported the bill becasue of the amount of money it brough to Northern Virginia, something we haven't had in years and deserately needed. I believe McDonnell's role was entirely legitimate.

[Really?]

LG Bolling originally supported the fees. To say he has always opposed them is ludicrous. This is just another example of Bolling picking a position based on the current political winds. His beliefs are based on political convenience and the most recent poll. Perhaps we should change his name to LG Bill Polling.

RT-D Op Ed, 9/24/06
"When the General Assembly returns to Richmond on Wednesday to continue the special session on transportation, I encourage the members of the General Assembly to take the following actions...

Fourth, finalize agreement on a plan to increase fines and penalties for traffic-related offenses by at least $50 million a year. Again, both houses of the General Assembly have indicated they support this proposal, but they have not acted to implement it."

[south o' da rivah]

I found this on Bolling's OWN website from 8 weeks ago. In the Washington Times this past November, he said:

“We have provided $3 billion in new funding for transportation construction, created innovative new tools to enable localities to better plan for growth and prevent sprawl and instituted performance and accountability measures to improve VDOT and its road-building operations.”
http://billbolling.com/?page=news&view=000000569

Sounds like he did support the part of the Transportation Plan's abuser fees, showing us how to be for it and against it. I thought only liberals from Mass did that.

[Anne]

My problem with the abusive driver fee is that it smells a bit like a tax and it probably wouldn't really get the drunkards and the speed demons off the road or really teach them a necessary lesson. I suppose most would just pay and keep drinking and speeding until the next time they get caught, and the ones who cannot afford to pay or who would rather not pay would probably just drive without licenses until they get caught.

Many of the real repeat offenders who drive blaring that awesome Sammy Hagar tune with a fifth in one hand need jail time or to have their licenses taken away until they can show they've learned to drive like civilized, responsible adults. I mean, heck, cry me a river, but no one needs to get a DUI or a ticket for unsafe speed, ever. That's a bad choice the driver makes. But instead of a fee, I'd rather see those same folks see jail or no more license or a highly restricted license. A license is not a right, after all.

I don't think the fee solves the problem of unsafe drivers, of course. I think they got the message in Richmond on this, so we'll have to see what they come up with next, I suppose.

To me, this isn't one I really distinguish between Bolling or McDonald on. They're both good guys in my book. As to tenuous ties ("no direct tie to the firm or the profits?" huh?), I don't put much stock in that. It's one of those non-accusations that sounds like an accusation. Those are something to be avoided.

Everyone has heard the anger over the abusive driver fees coming at them from all angles of the political spectrum, so let's see 'em fix it in Richmond.