Re: O.T. Things are getting ugly out there.

On 18 Feb 2006 15:47:34 -0800, Winfield Hill <Winfield_member@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/16/AR2006021602066.html


This is ugly too:

Driver Responsibility Tax Surprises Out of State Motorist
-------------------------------------------------------
Driver responsibility taxes turn a single out-of-state speeding ticket into
an annual fee.


New laws allow some states to tax drivers annually -- even if they live in
another state -- simply because they received a speeding ticket. One
Connecticut motorist, who asked that his name not be used, discovered this
after driving in October in Niagara Falls, New York. Despite being caught in
what he considered a brazen speed trap -- the speed limit was 45 MPH where he
was caught, but 55 MPH at the same location in the opposite direction -- he
accepted the $155 fine for driving 72 MPH thinking by paying the matter would
be settled.

Last week, however, the state of New York notified him that it now considers
him an "at risk" driver and therefore he must either pay the state an annual
$100 tax or a lump sum of $300.

"Seems to me the low speeding fine was bait for a guilty plea so they could
slap this on me a month or two down the road," the motorist explained. "I
call that entrapment in the first degree."

Driver responsibility taxes were inspired by the insurance industry practice
of turning minor speeding violations into a recurring source of revenue.
Though sold as affecting only "bad drivers" like those convicted of driving
while drunk or on a suspended license, the extra fees kick in with just a few
points on the driving record.

Michigan, New Jersey and Texas also impose this tax, and the idea is
spreading. With a 34-6 vote on Friday, the Virginia state Senate approved a
"bad driver" tax championed by new governor Timothy M. Kaine (D) that is
expected to net $67.2 million in the first year and a total of $401.4 million
by 2010. The state House has not yet acted on the measure.--




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