Virginia Laws: Stiff Fines added July 1st

[FRPLG]

I think my issue with all this goes to the "cruel and unusual[ly]" punative nature of this.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I know a lot of people are saying to just be better drivers. Be BETTER drivers or PERFECT drivers? I have a hard time believing that EVERY TIME everyone uses a signal light or NEVER pulls through a parking lot. The law is bullshit because, just like Daseal, there will be the one person who makes a mistake and then truly pays for it. They could charge a million dollars and people would still make mistakes. We're not robots.

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I know a lot of people are saying to just be better drivers. Be BETTER drivers or PERFECT drivers? I have a hard time believing that EVERY TIME everyone uses a signal light or NEVER pulls through a parking lot. The law is bullshit because, just like Daseal, there will be the one person who makes a mistake and then truly pays for it. They could charge a million dollars and people would still make mistakes. We're not robots.

Yea, and those mistakes will be costly. It might get a few more folks to think about what the hell they are actually suposed to be doing behind the wheel.

Instead of everything they shouldn't be doing?

[TheMalcolmConnection]

The shitty drivers aren't going to be less shitty because the fines are higher.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

It's really just punishing the otherwise good drivers who just make a mistake now and then.

[JoeRedskin]

And, as Daseal's incident points out, the law creates an invitation to arbitrarily enforce the laws -

"I was gonna bang you with the big fine but now that I see you're [older, a hot woman, hot guy, not a young male, white, etc], I won't."

While I don't have the studies to back it up, I would bet that the arbitrary enforcement of excessive fines does not create a greater likelihood of compliance.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by Sammy Baugh Fan

Wow, $1,000 for crossing across a parking lot or for failure to use turn signals.

Hey...those things really GRIND MY GEARS, so I'm fine with it.

Let's add: If you're not using headlights at twilight or in the rain...doubled if you have a grey/silver car that matches the road...and tailgaters.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

The shitty drivers aren't going to be less shitty because the fines are higher.

They'll be off the road if they're broke.


Like Matty said, if you're a good driver, you'll be fine.

[Sammy Baugh Fan]

How about folks driving at you with HIGH BEAMS on? I close my eyes till I get past them.

peace

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

The shitty drivers aren't going to be less shitty because the fines are higher.

So your saying if a guy gets two tickets that end up costing him lets say $100 court cost and fine then this fine of $1050 which the two will end up costing him $2300 that will not effect the way they drive? If thats the case then they deserve the fines.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Yeah, basically. Regardless of the amount of fines one gets, you're never going to be the perfect driver. I would say that most of us on here consider themselves good drivers, but as I said above, none of us are perfect.

Each and every one of us breaks traffic laws, most of us on a daily basis. Not because we're crappy drivers, but because we're not perfect. A hit in the wallet is a hit in the wallet whether it's a hundred or a thousand. It would be one thing if it were only ten bucks or something like that. I think one hundred as it is now is a pretty damn good deterrent.

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by Sammy Baugh Fan

Wow, $1,000 for crossing across a parking lot or for failure to use turn signals.

http://www.courts.state.va.us/publications/hb_3202.pdf

My main problem is there are making the stiff fines not to deture the offenses from happening but "TO RAISE FUNDS" in the State of Virginia.

That totally blows.

So yer car passes State Inspection and 2 months later a Cop pulls you over and fines you $1,000 for bad tires. That inspection is good for a year. That blows.

Thoughts? Fears? Anger?

peace
mike

Unreal. That fine is far more criminal than failing to use your turn signal.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by Sammy Baugh Fan

Wow, $1,000 for crossing across a parking lot or for failure to use turn signals.

http://www.courts.state.va.us/publications/hb_3202.pdf

My main problem is there are making the stiff fines not to deture the offenses from happening but "TO RAISE FUNDS" in the State of Virginia.

That totally blows.

So yer car passes State Inspection and 2 months later a Cop pulls you over and fines you $1,000 for bad tires. That inspection is good for a year. That blows.

Thoughts? Fears? Anger?

peace
mike

1,000 dollars. It will really make people think twice.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Yeah, basically. Regardless of the amount of fines one gets, you're never going to be the perfect driver. I would say that most of us on here consider themselves good drivers, but as I said above, none of us are perfect.

Each and every one of us breaks traffic laws, most of us on a daily basis. Not because we're crappy drivers, but because we're not perfect. A hit in the wallet is a hit in the wallet whether it's a hundred or a thousand. It would be one thing if it were only ten bucks or something like that. I think one hundred as it is now is a pretty damn good deterrent.

I don't break a trafic laws everytime I drive. Now if you said from time to time everyone breaks a trafic law then I would agree but most of these people do not get tickets. For the average good driver it takes some bad luck of being in the wrong place at the right time for a police to catch you breaking a law. For people to get multiple tickets means that they are breaking the laws enough to get caught when chances are slim of ever getting caught in the first place. Yes safe drivers will get hit by this but it will be the ones that really break the laws which will take the biggest hit. I do not agree with the fines as they are set up and would like to have seen them imposed on people who have prior convictions.

[Daseal]

Firstdown -- you go 55 in a 55, not 60? Up here in Northern Virginia, if you're going slower than 65 in a 55 you'll get run off the road. While I drive fast, I always use my signal and the extent of my driving through a parking lot is driving through a space and that's only if I'm sure no one is coming from the other direction.

These could turn into a very costly "I saw you swerve over the line." type of traffic stops. What if you have no clue your blinker is out? etc. Too touchy for the fine. I'm fine with ENFORCING a lower fine for all of these penalties but 1000 bucks is too much.