Local senator suggests gas tax hike
to replace abusive driver fees
In Lexington and Buena Vista residents worry about potential increases in gas taxes.
(JACOB GEIGER/ Rockbridge Report)
Although the Virginia Senate has voted unanimously to repeal abusive driver fees, local senators are divided on how the state should replace the revenue that will be lost.
The fees were greeted with a firestorm of criticism when they took effect last July, because they applied only to Virginia residents and not to out-of-state drivers convicted of similar traffic violations.
Republican Sen. Emmett Hanger, whose district includes Lexington and western Rockbridge County, said he would support increasing the state's gas tax to replace lost revenue.
“I had suggested adding a penny or two [per gallon] on gas tax, which is paid by in-or out-of-state drivers," Hanger said.
The state currently imposes a 17.5-cent tax per gallon of gas.
Hanger said adding 2 cents to the tax could increase annual revenues by $100 million.
But Democratic Sen. Creigh Deeds, who represents Buena Vista and eastern Rockbridge County, said he is unsure the state should do anything to raise additional transportation revenue.
Deeds said that between July 1 and Jan. 1, the state collected only $4 million of the $12 million in fines that were assessed. Some residents have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the fees, while others have been unable to pay the fees, which can reach $3,000.
“Replacing the revenue is a red herring," Deeds said. "I don't think we have to replace any revenue."
The fees were originally designed to help the state collect about $40 million in annual revenue.
Before the abusive driver fees are taken off the books, the Senate's bill must be passed by the House of Delegates and signed by Gov. Tim Kaine. After months of supporting the fees, Kaine called for their repeal in his State of the Commonwealth Address last month.
Local residents say they want to see the state upgrade its roads and bridges, but they are also worried about increasing gas prices.
“Well, I would support [increasing the gas tax], except gas is so expensive now that it's hard to pay another cent or two," said Tracy Martin, a clerk at Stop In Food Stores Inc. in Lexington.
Martin said she would not mind keeping abusive driver fees if they applied to all drivers. She said the fees would make people drive more carefully.
Donny Coleman, a Buena Vista resident who works for the pest control company Orkin, said he drives about 200 miles each workday. He fills up his truck about every other day, and even though Orkin pays for gas, he said it has affected the business.
“It's tough … the price of gas affects everything in the economy," Coleman said.
Deeds said that even though abusive driver fees will soon be repealed, the General Assembly needs to develop a long-term transportation plan. He said the state has known for more than a decade that serious upgrades are needed.
“I'd love to think that will happen, but anything that involves raising money is difficult in Richmond," Deeds said. "The 2007 election has poisoned the environment in the House of Delegates."
Deeds said many transportation plans have passed in the Senate in the past few years before stalling in the House. Despite discussions, he is pessimistic.
“A statewide plan won't happen this year in this environment," he said.
( ALEX SCAGGS / Rockbridge Report)
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