NMA State Alert for Virginia: Gov. McDonnell Must Veto HB 1292
As a driver in the State of Virginia, you owe it to yourself to read this March 4th editorial from The Washington Times. In addition to a recounting of the dangerous game that Alexandria is playing by shortening the yellow light intervals on their traffic signals in the name of money, the piece explains the bill, HB 1292, that state legislators have put on Gov. McDonnell's desk for signature.
"Specifically, [HB 1292] gives the companies behind the traffic cameras direct accessto the private information contained in Department of Motor Vehicles records. The idea
is to make it cheaper for cities and counties to outsource their law enforcement to these
companies, which frequently are based in foreign countries."
Enactment of the bill will pave the way for Virginia cities with existing photo enforcement programs to increase their stable of ticket cameras, and for other municipalities to start their own camera programs. HB 1292 will have these net effects:
- The private information of individual drivers will be shared via the DMV with foreign-based camera companies
- The profit incentive of operating red-light and speed cameras in Virginia will increase for local governments, resulting in more photo enforcement programs that generate revenue from motorists
- As studies have shown conclusively, drivers will be less safe because accident rates increase at ticket camera locations
HB 1292 will be put in front of Governor McDonnell within the next few days. Please contact his office right away and ask him to veto HB 1292 for the reasons stated above.
