Gov. Tim Kaine signed legislation today repealing the state's controversial "abusive driver" fees, wiping out a nine-month-old law that had become an embarrassment for the governor and the General Assembly.

The legislation, which takes effect immediately, allows Virginians who have paid the fees to receive a refund from the state.

The General Assembly and Kaine approved the civil fees as part of a hodgepodge transportation funding plan last year. The fees were assessed on top of other penalties for serious offenses such as reckless or drunken driving. But Virginians throughout the state had a hostile reaction to the penalties, which can run as high as $3,000 for a felony offense. They complained about the severity of the fees and the fact that they applied only to drivers with Virginia licenses.

A legislative study released late last year also indicated that the fees would not deter bad driving and would not generate anything near the $65 million in revenue that Kaine and lawmakers expected. The revenue was supposed to go toward highway maintenance.

The state collected $3.9 million in civil fees between July 1 and Dec. 30, according to a fiscal impact statement prepared by the Department of Planning and Budget.

In a statement released this afternoon, Kaine said "it was clear that the fees did not improve the safety of Virginia highways."

Several lawmakers from both parties filed bills to repeal the fees. Kaine signed the two measures that reached his desk -- Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1243. Both measures passed the legislature with overwhelming support.

Virginians who have paid any portion of the fees will receive a refund from the state and will have any outstanding fees waived. But they still must pay any court fines assessed in connection with their cases. Drivers who had their licenses suspended for failing to pay an abusive driver fee will be notified that they are eligible to receive a license free of charge.