Call Now 202-960-4596
On July 1, 2007, The Commonwealth of Virginia will begin imposing “civil remedial fees” (CRFs) for certain driving infractions. Imposed in addition to present fines for traffic violations, the fees will make the final cost of bad driving significantly higher.
A first-time drunk driving violation, for instance, will remain an infraction punishable with a $300 fine, but in addition to the fine, Virginia will impose a civil remedial fee of $2,250.00. Fees for some felony driving infractions, such as felony driving too fast for road conditions, will be as high as $3,000.00. The fee will be payable in three installments, the first of which will be due immediately.
Designed as Virginia licensing fees rather than fines, the new charges apply only to Virginia residents and judges will not be allowed to waive them for any reason. Judges will still be allowed to waive fines, however, the revenue of which would go to individual counties. Consequently, some worry that sympathetic judges will more readily waive fines, knowing that drivers still face hefty civil fees, and the end result will be an in increase in revenue for Virginia at the expense of its counties.
For your safety and the safety of others, we hope you’ll drive sensibly this Independence Day weekend, and throughout the year.
For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at (202) 463-3030.
