Today Brian Moran announced legislation calling for repeal of Abusive Driver Fees:

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran announced legislation to repeal the Abusive Driver Fee’s in this session of the General Assembly. Brian has consistently opposed the abuser fees since their first introduction several years ago. Yesterday’s release of a report from the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission confirmed that the fees have been ineffective and today Brian announced his legislation to repeal the fees and refund those drivers unfairly taxed. Last summer over 180,000 Virginians signed petitions in opposition to these fees.

“We have said all along that these fee’s are a Washington-style gimmick that wouldn’t stand the test of time. They don’t make our roads safer, fail to generate real money for transportation, and turn our police officers in to tax collectors,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran “It’s time for their repeal. I hope my Republican colleagues will join my efforts in opposition to these fees.”

The Washington Post has more on the study:

Virginia may have to issue more than 300,000 license suspensions to drivers over the next two years for failure to pay the state’s abusive-driving fees, according to a government report that may hasten calls for the General Assembly and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) to eliminate them.

In the first broad review of the fees since they took effect July 1, state auditors found that they have not affected traffic safety and might not raise as much money as expected. The report describes confusion over which offenses can trigger the fees and indicates that some police officers are choosing not to write tickets for violations that carry the fees.

Read the full press release here.