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Va. Abusive-Driver Fee Repeal Clears House

DURING HIS STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH address earlier this month, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine declared that he would like the Old Dominion's unpopular and expensive abusive-driver fees — administrative charges that are added to judicial fines for such things as reckless driving and related offenses — done away with.

Now, lawmakers in the House of Delegates have acted, approving a bill that would alter last year's package of transportation legislation and repeal the fees, which studies said did not improve safety or raise significant amounts of revenue.

However, the new legislation has at least one aspect that might not be very popular with the public. Reports The Post's Anita Kumar:

The proposal, which goes to the Senate, would require Northern Virginia residents to pay sales taxes on car purchases directly to the state instead of through dealers, a move the state Department of Transportation says could leave buyers standing in long lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

With no discussion, the bill passed 95 to 2. It does not say where the $65 million that the fees were supposed to raise annually would come from.

Related legislation is scheduled to be heard by the Senate's Finance Committee today.

» "Repeal of Abusive-Driver Fees Easily Passes in Va. House" [WaPo]
» EARLIER: "Quoted: Kaine Comes Out Against Driver Fees" [Free Ride/Express]

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