Driving without a license; person may be placed under arrest if previously convicted of offense. (HB1695)

Introduced By

Del. Dave Albo (R-Springfield)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Driving without an operator's license. Provides that any person who drives without an operator's license may be placed under arrest, fingerprinted and the arrest reported to the Central Criminal Records Exchange if the general district court for the jurisdiction has approved arrest for the offense of driving without an operator's license. The bill also provides for administrative impoundment of the vehicle of a person who drives without an operator's license if he has been previously convicted of the offense. Read the Bill »

Status

02/23/2009: Failed to Pass in Committee

History

DateAction
01/05/2009Committee
01/05/2009Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/09 098138404
01/05/2009Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/16/2009Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
01/26/2009Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)
01/28/2009Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (19-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
01/28/2009Committee substitute printed 090905404-H1
01/30/2009Read first time
02/02/2009Read second time
02/02/2009Committee substitute agreed to 090905404-H1
02/02/2009Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB1695H1
02/03/2009Read third time and passed House (85-Y 13-N)
02/03/2009VOTE: --- PASSAGE (85-Y 13-N) (see vote tally)
02/04/2009Constitutional reading dispensed
02/04/2009Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/11/2009Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
02/23/2009Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 3-N) (see vote tally)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 2 clips in all, totaling 4 minutes.

Comments

CG2 Consulting, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

This is a VACOLAO legislative priority. VACOLAO opposes this bill which invites bias-based policing.

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The Virginia Interfaith Center opposes this bill.

Traci writes:

The problem with this proposed law and all others like it is that is unfairly punishes the driver. It will also use up police resources that could otherwise be used to deal with criminals.

I think I understand the frustration behind the idea of this bill, but it seems to jump past the problem just to create new problems.

Phil Storey writes:

This is a naked invitation to police to engage in discriminatory enforcement. Just say no!

Nonprofit NoVA, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

Opposed.

David Wright writes:

Excuse me but how exactly does this invite "bias-based" policing or "discriminatory enforcement"? Are you implying that people of certain races or backgrounds are more likely to break the law and drive without a license ??

What this bill does is give cops out there risking their lives greater power to keep the streets clean of dangerous people who are not licensed to drive, particularly repeat offenders. I'm all for it.