Albo: Yes To Walmart, No Cops & Prosecutors

Virginia has not raised the felony-misdemeanor distinction on things like shoplifting since 1979. What could $200 get you in 1979? According to this website, $200 in 1979 could buy you something worth $597.66 today.

In a recent blog posting, Senator-Elect Chap Petersen recounts a conversation he had with Senator Cuccinelli at the Police Local #5016 reception about collaborating on raising the threshold on property crimes from $200. For example, Senator-Elect Chap Petersen points out that North Carolina's threshold is set at $1,000.

Prosecutors and cops support raising this threshold and also supported it in 2004. It's a common sense measure that will save the Commonwealth money, increase jail space for more serious crimes, and keep the severe consequences of felony convictions rational and consistent with inflation. So why doesn't Virginia modify this threshold?

Well... it's opposed by Walmart and their lobbying group - the Virginia Retail Merchant's Association (VRMA). Who was the legislator of the VRMA's Legislator of the Year in 2004 for killing the last bill to raise the felony-misdemeanor threshold?

Delegate Dave Albo

Who's given Del. Dave Albo $1,250 since 2004?

But wait! Along with your expected quotient Del. Albo receiving special interest money, there's more in this AMG Exclusive Special Offer! Who's the #4 recipient of Virginia retail money since 1996 out of 141 legislators?

Delegate Dave Albo

So what's our prediction for 2007?

Do Albo's Punishment Schemes Really Work?

We've brought you several articles about Del. Dave Albo and his penchant for pushing legislation that drives more clients to his traffic law practice and gives them incentives to pay him more and more money.

The Albo & Oblon, PLLC Abuser Fee Plan
The Albo & Oblon, PLLC Abuser Fee Plan - Part II
Cash, Booze & The Albo Cycle

We even brought you this depiction of Del. Dave Albo's relationship with the alcohol industry ($139,000 in campaign contributions and counting) and its consequences (see AMG, Delegate for Sale):

(click on picture to enlarge)

So where did it all start? Back before Abuser Fees.... in 2004, Del. Dave Albo was one of the leaders in pushing new mandatory minimum jail time and fines for first offense DWI's calling it "an all-out assault on drunk driving." Melanie Scarborough, DWI Laws that Should be DOA, Washington Post (Feb. 29, 2004). The Washington Post also reported this at the time:

Virginia's new, tougher drunken driving laws are likely to put thousands more drivers behind bars each year and require them to install expensive breathalyzer equipment in their cars, lawmakers said. . . Lawmakers estimate that as many as 8,000 additional offenders annually will face those penalties in Virginia. . .The General Assembly will reconsider that idea and other sources of funding next year if jails, courts and ASAPs need more money, Albo said. But he and other anti-drunken driving proponents said the new laws will be well worth their cost if they deter people from drinking before driving. "It's got to be done," Albo said. DUI Laws May Jail Thousands in Va., Washington Post (July 9, 2004).

What did conservative commentator Melanie Scarborough say at the time?

But lawmakers also must consider the potential damage of casting too wide a net. It doesn't improve the public safety to write rules that snare drivers on technical offenses. Considering new laws requires sober judgment. Temperance is in order in Richmond. Melanie Scarborough, DWI Laws that Should be DOA, Washington Post (Feb. 29, 2004).

So how successful was Del. Dave Albo's legislation at deterring drunk drivers? Well, the Washington Post reported this today:

[T]he rise in fatalities in 2006, to 55 [fatalities], was the highest total in Northern Virginia in the 10 years.

So let's see, Del. Dave Albo helps push through legislation giving Virginia the harshest DWI laws in the Commonwealth and alcohol-related fatalities go to their highest levels in ten year. We can't wait to see what $3,500 speeding tickets bring.....