Governor Timothy M. Kaine signed Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1243 Thursday to immediately repeal the abusive driver fees and provide refunds for citizens against whom the fees have been assessed. The fees, which were part of House Bill 3202 passed during the 2007 General Assembly session, were intended to raise revenue for highway maintenance and improve the safety of Virginia highways.

“After six months of implementation, it was clear that the fees did not improve the safety of Virginia highways,” says Kaine. “The citizens of Virginia expressed concerns regarding these fees, and based on these concerns, I have signed the bills that repeal the fees. I thank Senator Edd Houck and Delegate Tim Hugo for sponsoring the repeal bills.”

“In the earnestness of trying to solve the transportation issue, a mistake was made,” says Houck, who led the effort to repeal the fees with Senate Bill 1. “This was simply the wrong way to go about funding transportation. And today is the day we correct all that.”

Citizens who have paid any portion of an abusive driver fee will receive a refund from the Department of Accounts. No further action is required to receive the refund. All outstanding fees will be waived and considered satisfied. Individuals should not pay any bills they receive from the courts for an abusive driver fee. However, individuals still must pay any court fines that were assessed. For additional information regarding the return of abusive driver fees call the Department of Accounts at 804-225-2376.

Individuals whose privilege to drive was suspended solely for failure to pay an abusive driver fee will be notified by the Department of Motor Vehicles that they are eligible to receive a license. These individuals may receive a new license free of charge at a DMV customer service center. For additional information regarding license re-instatement, call DMV Direct at 866-368-5463.