Virginia Remedial Fees were a set of taxes enacted by the Virginia General Assembly that collected up to $3,000 for moving violations. The taxes were enacted as the method to fund a variety of transportation projects without raising other taxes, and with the side-benefit of discouraging abusive driving. However, the taxes have been criticized for:

• being excessive
• not applying to out-of-state drivers
• applying to minor infractions like:
• failing to signal a turn
• speeding 10 mph over the limit on a 70 mph road
• for driving business to traffic lawyers like the bill's originator.

The taxes also became the subject of a massive Internet petition-signing effort calling for their repeal. Some legislators across the Commonwealth, aware of the intense opposition, began reversing their positions and opposing the taxes.

On the last day of the 2008 legislative session, March 8, the Virginia General Assembly passed a repeal of these taxes. The taxes collected to date will be refunded. At 10:15 p.m., at least 10 Republican State Senators refused to vote for the repeal legislation, which would prevent the repeal taking effect as soon as the Governor signs the bill. However, at 10:25 p.m., the Republicans requested a revote, and it passed 37-3, which will allow an immediate effective date.

External links

• Official Website

Refererences