Yes, Says Virginia, Cyclists CAN be Abusive Drivers

In Virginia cyclists apparently have to REALLY mind their P's and Q's.

Virginia political leaders defended the civil remedial fee speeding ticket tax by insisting that they did not apply to minor offenses and only the "worst of drivers" had to worry about them. On January 10, the Newport News General District Court disagreed and imposed a $1050 fee on the driver of an 18-speed Huffy (That's a representative model of the naughty vehicle, used to commit the "crime", in the photo.) ...

The intent of the law was that real abusers -- those with a chronic record of dangerous driving that endangers other road users -- would be made to pay for their reckless driving.

Bicyclist Kajuan Cornish, 19, has not accumulated a bad driving record because he does not own an automobile. That did not stop Newport News Police Officer George Evans for writing up Cornish as he pedaled down Warwick Boulevard near Denbigh Boulevard on December 27. Cornish was headed back to work after taking a lunch break.

"The officer who pulled me over said I was going too fast," Cornish told WAVY-TV. "He said it looked like I was in a rush."

Apparently a judge saw things the Officers way so Cornish must either pay the fee or fight his case in court.

Cornish says his reckless driving ticket might one day be funny, if it weren't so confusing.

"I get some people who laugh," he says, "and I get some people, like me, that are lost."

He reads his ticket out loud.

"Year?  None.  Make?  None.  Type?  Bike.  License?  None.  State?  None."

Cornish has to pay an abusive driver fee - he says $350 each year for the next four years - for a ticket he got on his lunch break.

"So I turn and I go into the parking lot," he remembers, "and I get pulled over for recklessly driving on a bicycle."

State Delegate Dave Albo (R-Springfield), the mastermind of the fees -- and a traffic attorney (figures!) -- is more than a bit surprised that a judge would apply them to a bicyclist.

Considering the ignorance and prejudice many display toward cyling and cyclists I'm not surprised at all.

Mr. Albo apparently didn't think his idea thru far enough before fighting to get it enacted into law.

The Governor is looking into overturning the law.

Considering the outrage from the Cycling Community, and others, that seems like the prudent thing to do. ;-D

Hat Tips to:

Bicyclist hit with $1050 Abusive Driver Fee by Alex Roy of Team Polizei 144.

Bicyclist gets ticket for reckless driving- WAVY-TV.

Virginia: Bicyclist Hit With $1050 Abusive Driver Fee
A Newport News, Virginia court applies the abusive driver fees to a man riding a bicycle - thenewspaper.com.