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Assembly Briefs: Senate OKs Return of Red-Light Cameras

Posted on: Thursday, 2 February 2006, 09:00 CST

By The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.

Feb. 2--The state Senate quickly passed a bill that aims to slow down motorists by using red-light cameras.

The Senate voted 30-9 on Wednesday to bring back the cameras at intersections in Virginia Beach and some Northern Virginia cities. The bill, SB453, now goes to the House of Delegates.

Last year, the General Assembly shut down the pilot program that originally brought the cameras to Virginia Beach because critics argued that they infringed on privacy rights and caused more rear-end crashes.

According to the Virginia Beach Police Department, since the lights were turned off last June, twice as many drivers have run red lights in four of the city's busy intersections.

The Beach is the only city that still collects data from the cameras, though no tickets are issued from the information.

â€" Deirdre Fernandez

HOV lane: Senate passes bill regarding hybrids

If you don't want to carpool, driving a hybrid vehicle may still be your best ticket to the HOV lane, under a bill that passed the Senate Wednesday.

The Senate approved SB454 by a 35-3 vote. The bill allows drivers of alternative fuel vehicles to drive in high-occupancy lanes for one more year. The exemption for these drivers was to expire on June 30.

Sen. Marty E. Williams, R-Newport News, said many motorists bought fuel-efficient cars so they could ride in the HOV lanes and would be upset if the General Assembly allowed the law to expire.

â€" Deirdre Fernandez

Bill about underage drinking gets OK

Serving alcohol to an under age drinker in a private home would be legal only if the drinker's parent or guardian is 21 or older and present, under a bill that sailed through the Senate on Wednesday.

SB396, which targets high school graduation keg parties hosted by parents, was approved unanimously. It now goes to the House of Delegates for approval.

â€" Deirdre Fernandez

Motorcycle Medics: Four cities could be first to test program

Four South Hampton Roads cities could be the first to test a motorcycle medics program if a bill that gained Senate approval Wednesday wins votes in the House of Delegates.

SB24, authored by Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, would allow Suffolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Norfolk to start letting medics respond to wrecks on their motorcycles. The program should reduce the amount of time it takes to respond to a crash, Lucas said.

A similar bill passed the Senate last year but was killed in the House.

â€" Deirdre Fernandez

Firm ready to sue Va. over pay for lawyers

A Washington law firm vowed Wednesday to sue the state if the General Assembly does not pass legislation this winter increasing fees paid to lawyers who represent indigent clients.

Sarah L. Wilson of Covington & Burling said the firm is prepared to file a class action civil rights suit on behalf of indigent Virginians who have been charged with criminal offenses, claiming they have been denied effective legal representation and due process.

Virginia's caps on indigent defense are the lowest in the nation, ranging from $120 for a district court misdemeanor or juvenile court case to $1,235 for a felony punishable by 20 years in prison. The fees actually paid to lawyers vary from $112 to $1,186 because the General Assembly hasn't fully funded the programs.

State Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, and Del. David B. Albo, R-Fairfax, have introduced identical bills that would eliminate the caps and allow trial judges to set fees for each case before them. Stolle's bill is SB573, Albo's is HB313. Both legislators said they do not know the total cost of the measures.

"We probably incarcerate violent felons longer than any other state in the nation," Stolle said. "We utilize the death penalty on a frequent basis. If we're going to do that and maintain the confidence of the people, we have to have confidence in the criminal justice system."

â€" Warren Fiske

Dog Owners: Bill to impose more penalties advances

A bill that would impose criminal penalties on owners of dogs that attack people or other animals advanced in the House, despite complaints that the measure is too soft from the family of a woman who was killed by pit bulls.

HB340 would make nonfatal attacks a misdemeanor punishable by as much as a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. The measure was approved by the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources by a 20-2 vote.

"It's a slap in the face to the family and the victims," Larry Just told the panel. "His mother-in-law, Dorothy Sullivan, 82, was mauled last March by three roving pit bulls while she was walking her pet dog in her front yard in Spotsylvania County.

Deanna Large, who owned the pit bulls, was found guilty of manslaughter last month. The jury recommended she serve three years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24.

Just said he favored a measure approved by the Senate, SB200, that would make serious, nonfatal dog attacks a felony punishable by as much as 10 years in prison and a $2,500 fine.

â€" Warren Fiske

Illegal Immigration: House approves three measures

The House of Delegates approved three bills Wednesday designed to deal with illegal immigration.

HB487, sponsored by Del. Jeffrey M. Frederic, R-Prince William, authorizes Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to negotiate a memorandum of understanding that would allow the State Police to detain illegal immigrants until federal authorities agreed to pick them up.

In spite of arguments from opponents, who said it would increase costs to local governments, it passed 77-22.

Two other bills dealing with illegal immigrants enrolling at Virginia public colleges passed overwhelmingly on voice votes after long debates. Both are expected to receive final review today.

A bill from Del. John S. Reid, R-Henrico, HB1050, would bar colleges from allowing illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition. Another bill entered by Frank D. Hargrove, Sr., R-Hanover, HB262, would go a step further and ban the admission of illegal immigrants to Virginia public colleges.

"Here we go again," said Del. Adam P. Ebbin, D-Arlington. He said the bills unfairly target the children of illegal immigrants for the sins of their parents.

Del. Steven R. Landes, R-Augusta, noted that he went through proper channels to adopt a child from Korea. He said he has a constituent who waited 10 years to emigrate from Ireland so that he could do so legally. "This is an issue of fairness," he said.

â€"Harry Minium and Warren Fiske

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.

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Source: The Virginian-Pilot

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