RICHMOND – The Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted today to kill a bill that would have re-instituted a form of the “abusive driver” fees for felonies and drunken driving offenses.

House Bill 161, sponsored by Del. David Albo, R-Fairfax County, would have applied mandatory minimum fines of $2,250 for driving under the influence offenses and between $2,500 and $3,000 for vehicle-related felonies.

“Abusive driver” fees that did not apply to out-of-state drivers were approved by the General Assembly and governor last year as part of a patchwork transportation funding plan. When they took effect in July, Virginians reacted with instant outrage to the penalties.

Bills to repeal those fees are on their way to approval in both the House and Senate. There are some differences between the two chambers’ bills, and they’re likely headed to a conference committee for resolution.

Unlike those “abusive driver,” the fines proposed in HB 161 would have applied to out-of-state drivers. And instead of being slated to pay for transportation, they’d have gone to the state’s fund for school construction.

“The purpose of this is not to raise money,” Albo said. “The purpose of this is to deter behavior.”

Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County, said the fees enacted last year didn’t accomplish that.
“There’s absolutely no evidence that it deterred any behavior in the last six months of last year,” Deeds said. “Well, what are we accomplishing here except resurrecting … an abuser fee idea that wasn’t good?”