Prompt Change Urged in Va. Fees

Howell and Stosch maintain that the legislature can eradicate the concerns in January.

They said they plan to eliminate the fees for many traffic offenses, such as failing to report an accident or driving without insurance. They also vowed to revamp the state's reckless-driving law, which can trigger a fee, so that fewer motorists are cited for the offense. Currently, all misdemeanor and felony traffic offenses are subject to the fees. That does not include common speeding infractions, but it does include driving more than 20 mph over the limit.

After the overhaul, the fees would still apply to the most serious traffic offenses, such as driving under the influence and felony reckless driving.

"We are going to concentrate on serious crimes," Howell said.

If the General Assembly removes some traffic offenses from the law, Virginia will issue refunds to anyone who has already paid fees for those offenses.

The fees, which are supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, currently apply only to Virginia drivers, but GOP leaders want to extend them to out-of-state motorists. Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax) said Virginia might expect other states to suspend the licenses of residents who incur a fee in Virginia but do not pay it.

Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) said he doubts that Maryland would cooperate because Virginia's fees are too steep.

"I can't imagine Marylanders being forced to pay an exorbitant fee to fund Virginia roads when they may just passing through," said Miller, who added, "Virginia should have enough courage to tie the funding source for roads to a gas tax."

The fees, expected to generate $65 million a year, are part of a plan to raise $1 billion annually to pay for transportation projects without a statewide tax increase.

Howell and Stosch stressed that the fees are also about highway safety. They said Michigan, which implemented similar fees in 2003, has experienced a 12 percent reduction in traffic fatalities since the fines took effect. Howell predicts similar gains in Virginia. But Texas, which has had such fees since 2003, recorded the nation's largest increase in drunken-driving deaths in 2006, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A growing number of GOP lawmakers and officials are concerned that the fees are hurting the party's image.

David Hunt, a Republican candidate for a House of Delegates seat in McLean, said that, if elected, he will sponsor a bill to repeal the fees.

"I think clearly the General Assembly and governor didn't do their homework," Hunt said. "People can make mistakes. Now is the time to fix it."

Kevin Hall, a Kaine spokesman, said "the governor continues to believe January is the best time to address residents' concerns about abuser fees."