Today, an amazing thing happened. Over 40,000 Virginians signed an online petition demanding the repeal of the Albo & Oblon PLLC Abuser Fee Plan (See
.
It is time we as Americans take our country back. Not only are other countrys using us, our politicians are too.Jennie Dunn, #22
This is outrageous, and a penalty that goes way beyond the seriousness of the infractions. I sincerely doubt that lawyers like Mr. Albo are in need of new revenue streams. It also provides a nice little windfall for the insurance companies doing business in Virginia. If the Commonwealth needs the money, it should step up to the plate, admit it, explain why, and find a fairer and more equitable way of generating the revenue. To slip this past the citizens of the Commonwealth in this fashion is cowardly and irresponsible. I should have thought the Governor and Virginia legislature would have served us better.
| William G. Trout | #93
Government For the People, not for Profit!
James Eric Henley, #146
The Rich get more rich and the poor get more in debt with this bill.
Chris Barry, #528
Outrageous legislation such as VA3202 has Thomas Jefferson rolling in his grave. It is because of legislation exactly like VA3202 that we revolted against the British 230 years ago. Let us not ever forget that.
Lee Kondor, #562
Who voted these people into office? It is ridiculous.
Bobbi Mount,
#618
Nothing surprises me anymore... another dirtbag politician out for personal gain.
Josh Parman, #655
Stop using the police as tax collectors.
Michael Delaney, #696
These fines especially hurt the poor and young residents of the state who may have trouble even paying the fines.
Jeff Shuster, #736
Let's move this to the "dumbest laws in history" category and get back to normal
Doug Meyer, #830
It is great to know the VA government can justify having a crooked delegate pushing/approving legislation that will line HIS law firm's pockets based on VA populations need to fight these ridiculous fees and penalties. Sad, absolutely SAD.
Justin Bowen, #843
This law is unconstitutional and the lawmakers are lining their own pockets because they know we will be forced to hire more attorneys for a traffic violation.
Curtis M. Fritts, #868
You are all money hungry and incabable of managing a budget. How about really serving the State by not taking a salary for yourselves, just like in the real Democracy of Ancient Greece? That's service, not cronyism.
John Margetis, #876
We poke fun at hick towns that set up speed traps to increase revenue. Our legislators are turning our entire state into a national joke with this "Lawyers' Full Employment Act."
Darryll C. Stone, #896
Is this a communistic state governed by a few rouge politicians or all of them crocked lying dogs who say anything during election year then once elected start on there own private agender to line their pockets with our hard earned cash!
Kenneth B. Hunter, #931
This man represented me for a DUI. He stole almost $5,000 and then told me I'd be stupid not to take a plea bargain that was offered to me. $5,000 and he just sat there and yawned. I took the plea bargain, and now I've been told by numerious lawyers (some of who are personel friends of Mr. Albo) that he screwed me. They could've done much more for half the price. It's kinda funny now since he kept bringing up that I might "hear" some bad press as his delegate race was coming to an end. A complete coward who cares nothing but about himself.
Jason R Peters, #954
Virginia residents are being penalized for making Virginia their home.
Gary Yates, #957
How about raising the minimum wage to be able to atleast pay these ridiculous fines
Laura, #969
to make the people pay for the countys needs is one thing but to put financialy nstable people, which there are a lot of in this expensive county, in terrible situations for something that may have been an accedent is not right. not everone is perfect, people make mistakes and this is a free country. i strongly disagree with this new policy and belive some of the rather wealthy decition makers shoud try put them selves in the shoes of an avrage citizen so they can see how potentaly devistating this poliacy can be to a fragle budget. This obserd law could seriously devestate the people of fairfax county and cause many unnecessary concounces, and hardships that do not have to be, thank you.
tyler masters, #981
Sic Semper Tyrannis!William S. Mitchell, #986
This law makes
me want to vomit!!!Darren Wietz, #1010
THE RICH WILL JUST TAKE THEIR CARS AND REGISTER THEM WHERE HEY AVE ANOTHER HOUSE! THE POOR ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES PAYING OR THE MAJORITY OF THESE CIVIL FEES!!!!
toby diggs, #1022
Un-civil punishment aimed to bankrupt the poor and working class
James Duda, #1025
This legislation is the worst combination of legislative abuse and nanny-state entality from the home of Patrick Henry, who wrote ""Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!" He was talking directly to YOU.
Noah Teates, #1050
Now that's just the first 1,000 OUT OF 40,000. The People have spoken Delegate Albo.
Delegate Dave Albo proudly brags on his website that he "modernized our transportation system" and that he was the plan's "chief architect." So what do five of his fellow Republicans think? Here are some excerpts from a story in yesterday's Washington Times: The landmark transportation package that Virginia lawmakers passed in the 2007 General Assembly now appears to be more of a liability than a re-election asset for some, as voters and localities are threatening to deal with the legislation in court. "Not a lot of people are running around town bragging about transportation anymore," said Delegate Jeffrey Frederick, a Prince William County Republican who opposed the agreement that for years split Republican and Democratic lawmakers. "People just have eggs all over their faces." Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, said increased public scrutiny is good. "For whatever reason it has not gotten the sort of public attention it deserves," said Mr. Stewart, a Republican. "This is a big deal. This is a significant tax increase."
"We don't believe it is constitutional to allow an unelected body to raise taxes on Northern Virginia citizens," said County Supervisor Mick Staton, a Republican. Supervisor Lori Waters, a Republican, said the board thinks members of the authority should be elected so voters can hold them accountable. "I don't feel like I have fair representative as an elected official, even though I voted against the tax increases," Mrs. Waters said.
Though a legal struggle could delay or even kill a series of construction projects, Mr. Stewart thinks the biggest concern is where the money will be spent after 2007. "The problem is once you impose the taxes they are imposed forever, and there is no specific list of projects that are going to be funded starting in 2008," he said.
State Delegate Robert M. Marshall has for months questioned the constitutionality of the transportation package. "The alienation of responsibility and accountability is woven through the fabric of this legislation," said Mr. Marshall, a Prince William County Republican. . . . "The constitution is very clear that the only people who can raise local taxes are a board of supervisors, city councils or members of a regional government that was elected by the citizens of the jurisdiction to which [the tax] applies," he said.
At the same time, state lawmakers continue to be bombarded with phone calls and e-mails from Virginians angry about the stiff driving-related fines - including $1,050 for speeding 20 or more mph over the limit. . . . "I think the politics of the transportation bill have been turned upside down because of the abuser fee," Mr. Frederick said. He also questioned whether the fees, which are charged only to Virginia drivers, violates the equal protection of law. What does our hero Delegate David Albo say? "It is a total pile of misinformation." "Some Internet journalist has spread a story that Virginia introduced a $3,500 traffic ticket. . . ." The truth can be a difficult thing to deal with, huh Delegate?
The past week has been quite interesting now that the general public has discovered the Del. Dave Albo that we have been blogging about here since April, 2006. It's no surprise to us here that Del. Dave Albo has no sympathy to the plight of the poor who are victimized by his revenue scheme. "My job is to fight for my people, my people are wealthy."
- Del. Dave Albo, Washington Post, Jan. 1, 2004
So what was Del. Dave Albo's reaction to criticism that by creating massive fines on traffic offenses that he would make more business for Del. Dave Albo the traffic defense lawyer? Albo bristles at the notion that the new law was intended to drum up business -- an "utterly ludicrous and horrific allegation that I would use my office for personal benefit." "It's just infuriating to me," Albo says, noting that his firm lost $84,500 in January and February alone while he tended to General Assembly work. Road to Ruin Leads to Better Highways, The Daily Press (July 1, 2007). Huh? My firm lost $84,500 while I was off drafting bills to ______________, yes Del. Albo?? Um, make traffic offenses a lot worse so that when it's time for Del. Albo to practice law Del. Albo will have more business? What's his newest talking points - attack the teachers and the bloggers. “That’s totally ludicrous,” he says, noting that he doesn’t make much money helping clients facing DUI charges. What’s more, “You have teachers sitting in the General Assembly voting on their own raises and no one questions that.” “You have teachers sitting in the General Assembly voting on their own raises and no one questions that.”
- Dave Albo, Quoted At Bacon's Rebellion (July 6, 2007) "I take great offense to that," Del. Albo said Wednesday, blaming the criticism on democratic bloggers. "No moron in America is hiring Dave Albo for $1,200 to get them out of a $1,000 ticket. You never hear any criticism about teachers sitting in the General Assembly voting themselves a pay increase. They're cuddly. Lawyers are not."
Virginia Rolls Out the $3550 Speeding Ticket (July 5, 2007) How much of a raise did the teachers get Delegate? $3,000 per year? How much revenue does your entire law firm derive from traffic work and how much extra money will you pocket being the "section leader" (see below)???
Have we ever see this before? In 2004, what legislator led the charge to massively increase penalties for DUI's? His first name starts with "D," last name "A," he 's a delegate, and his firm has a website - Virginia DUI Lawyer. What does it say? Our firm's Traffic Law section has experienced lawyers who aggressively defend these serious cases. The section leader, David B. Albo. . . .
- Virginia DUI Lawyer Website.
"You'd be hard-pressed to find a person like Delegate Albo in a citizen legislature who has done more to toughen drunk-driving laws," said Erickson.
- Virginia DUI Lawyer Website
Has Del. Dave Albo heard this complaint before? How about this Letter to the Editor from the 2005 campaign? FROM the BURKE edition of the Connection
Legislating DUI, Letter to the Editor (August 18, 2005)
To the Editor:
I was troubled by Del. Dave Albo's (R-42) letter ["Open Season," Connection, Aug. 11-17, 2005] denouncing a constituent for daring to question Mr. Albo's circular relationship with drunk-driving. In an age when citizens distrust government, this hostile treatment of a neighbor concerned about a conflict of interest involving public safety only fuels cynicism. I looked into the matter, and verified that Albo does write DUI legislation. He appoints the judges before whom DUI cases are heard. He then represents drunk-driving defendants before the judges he appointed and uses loopholes in the laws he wrote to get his clients off. Sadly, it does not end there. The alcohol industry is Albo's largest campaign supporter, contributing more than $40,000 this year alone according to publicly available reports (www.vpap.org). One failed Albo alcohol bill: allowing citizens to taste the products at ABC stores before getting in their cars and driving away. On the day Mr. Lindenblad's letter was published, I visited Albo's firm's Web site and saw multiple DUI-related links. This morning when writing this letter, I checked again and the page has been drastically changed to eliminate most references to DUI. The old page can be found at: virginiadui.poweradvocates.com/virginia_dui_defenses.html. In my research, I also came across a transcript of a court hearing in which Mr. Albo misstates the requirements of his own DUI law to a federal judge to secure a lesser sentence for his client. Thankfully, the judge was not fooled and Mr. Albo was forced to apologize for his misrepresentation. Incredibly, Mr. Albo defends this unseemly
relationship between his private practice and his public stances on drunk-driving by stating that the Founding Fathers, in creating a citizen legislature, intended him to make a living off of his legislating. Absurd. George Washington and George Mason once represented our district in the state legislature. Mr. Albo, respectfully, you are neither. Alan Salisbury
Lorton
Albo Must Go asks:
Will Albo ever get the message?
AOL News did an online poll regarding Del. Dave Albo's "abuser" "fees." Where did the online voting public come out?  Gee, those 283,000 people who voted against it must not have read the part about raiding teacher's retirement. That's usually good for about 50% public support, right? ****UPDATED**** Fox 5 News now has a poll up showing 85% disagree with Del. Dave Albo. 
Well it only took two weeks of bashing, but the truth has finally come out. Del. Dave Albo has been running around telling the press that his "abuser fees" were adopted to make the road safer. Well, we get this bit of honesty from Friday's Virginia-Pilot: Kaine said legislators might consider expanding the fees to cover out-of-state motorists, but he made no promise to push for such a change. It sounds like a simple fix, but it's not. The fees are currently treated as civil penalties collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you don't pay the fee, your driver's license could be suspended. The fees would have to be changed to criminal fines in order to collect from out-of-state drivers. Virginia's constitution earmarks all court fines to be spent on school construction and teacher retirement benefits. The bad-driver fees were adopted to generate new money for road maintenance. It would take three years and a voter referendum to amend the constitution. Del. David Albo, R-Fairfax, said he doubts there will be public support for a constitutional rewrite. The Virginian-Pilot, Virginia Motorists Vent to Kaine About Bad Driver Fees (June 29, 2007).
Many commentators have said that these "abuser fees" will cause judges around the Commonwealth to drop their fines on various offenses in light of the mandatory assessments. What does that mean? Less money for school construction and teacher retirement. In other words, a General Fund raid. Where have we heard this before? "The bottom line is that NoVa needs at least $300 Million more per year in addition to what has already been proposed, and the existing gas tax will not deliver it. If I was Governor, I would deliver $400-500 Million by cutting spending in our core service areas of government. But I am not Governor. . . ."- Del. Dave Albo In Letter to Constituents - quoted in AMG, Cutting Gang Prevention, Kids & Community College (Peter) to Pay Paul (Apr. 16, 2006). We all know that Delegate Albo has a great record when it comes to teachers. AMG, Dave Albo vs. the PTA (Apr. 25, 2006). Make sure you tell your child's teacher that they better increase their Roth IRA contribution - looks like their retirement just got raided.
|
