Albo Picking Cherries, Padding Pockets & Screwing the Poor

"I think it is a very destructive piece of legislation that is designed primarily for revenue purposes and is disguised as a highway safety measure," said William C. Buhl, a Circuit Court judge in Van Buren County, Mich. "In my opinion, it increases the dangers on the highways because it creates an enormous, growing pool of unlicensed motorists."

•   -  Tens of thousands suspended because they can't afford the fees;
• There is little evidence that "abuser fees" improve traffic safety;
  
•   -  The Michigan fees were promised to raise $80 to $100 million, but the state has only been able to collect 40% because people can't afford them;
  
•   -  Unlicense motorists offenses are increasing and motorists are fleeing police at increased rates because of suspensions;
  
•   -  Several judges are taking matters into their own hands and finding people guilty of lesser offenses;
  
•   -  Numerous lawmakers, judges, and activists have sought to repeal the fees where enacted;
  
•   -  NJ issues about 800,000 "abuser fee" suspensions per year and about 1/4th are unpaid and a 2001 NJ study found that NJ was creating a permanent underclass
  
•   -  And this fact:  "Under pressure to repeal the fees, [New Jersey] commissioned a study last year that found that although only 16 percent of residents live in low-income areas, those neighborhoods house nearly 40 percent of the people whose licenses have been suspended for failure to pay fees and fines."
  
•   -  A Michigan Circuit Court Judge emailed every legislator in the Commonwealth with his concerns about "abuser fees" and no one responded.
  
• -  Henry County Commonwealth's Attorney says state prosecutors are bracing for problems and that the police, the clerks, and the prosecutors weren't consulted - "this is no one was consulted - "is going to have an absolutely ruinous effect on financially challenged Virginians."

Virginia Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax), who helped develop the state's abusive-driver law, said he was unaware of the study and received only "glowing reports" from New Jersey officials about how the fees have made roads safer there. Albo said he did not remember getting an e-mail from Buhl.

•   -  Why no mention that Del. Dave Albo is a traffic attorney!
  
•   -  When mentioning that Del. Scott Lingamfelter is proposing repeal - why not mention that Del. Scott Lingamfelter co-sponsored abuser fees - twice - and second only to Del. Dave Albo and Del. Tom Rust?!??!?
  
•   -  Why no mention of this project's co-sponsor Del. Tom Rust?

Comments