That’s what the Daily Press said in its editorial Sunday on legislators and abuser fees:
There does seem to be an evolving theme here: Feet, don’t fail me now. The abuser fees got broad legislative support, but you wouldn’t think so now. Some of the most strident abuser-fee supporters have spun 180 degrees to call for outright repeal or a narrowing of the range of offenses subject to the fees.
I got polled Sunday afternoon. While the poll was about the Senate race between (soon to be former) incumbent Nick Rerras and challenger Ralph Northam, many of the questions were about the abuser fees. Let me guess: they were trying to figure out the ramifications if Rerras flip-flopped on his support of the abuser fees portion of the transportation package. (The poll was paid for by the Virginia Republican Senate Leadership Trust. More on the VRSLT here.)
While I think Rerras is going down regardless of his stance on this issue, I do hope that he comes out in support of repealing the abuser fees.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
There certainly has been alot of noise over the abuser fees, but in my house district (the 68th) there was and is overwhelming support for the package largely due to the fact we get funding in the bill for repairs to one of our bridges over the James (Huguenot) that is quite old. Had the bill not passed, there would have not been funding and after the latest trajedy with the bridge collapse puts our Independent delegate Katherine Waddell ahead of the curve on this one. Had she not supported the abuser fees legislation there would be no funding for the repair/overhaul of this bridge that everyone has been concerned about for years. She promised she would address it and she delivered. The case very well may be different in other districts I am sure, but thats legislating and governing, its about picking and choosing what very well may be best for constituents. Here, people are talking about how Waddell has made it happen and not the fact she supported the abuser fees, which leaves her Republican challenger Manoli Loupassi with very little room the manuever or should I say “spin”.
Both Rerras and Welch are going to have a hard time disassociating themselves from this legislation, since they were both on the Transportation Committee.
Spotter I get that but though it may be a slipery slope for them I can see the spin coming that they were attempting to keep from having to raise the taxes of Virginians in the hopes have passing the burden onto those of our State that break the laws.
It still baffles me. If your a repeat offender I got no problem with any of it. These are the people that contribute to rising insurance rates and potentially increase all of our chances of injury on our roads. I do not neccessarily support the structure of the bill but I liked the intent. As far as I am concerned repeat offenders and DUI convictions should get hammered with burdensome fees over jailtime as long as their action resulted in no injury. Save the tax dollars of housing them in county/city jails, suspend their liscence until fines are paid…period. Like Mom always said “Driving is not a right”.