A 69-year-old Dumfries man is charged with assault and battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest.
According to police, the suspect attempted to grab an officer by the throat after police were called to a house to investigate a fight.
In August of 2014, I organized a Hispanic Town Hall Meeting in Hybla Valley. I spent the first hour going over issues with constituents.
Then, I asked attendees for feedback – what was their #1 issue? Lack of government identification. Attendees said that they and their friends and family were weary of obtaining ID’s from Maryland or not having them at all.
At the beginning of last session, I was approached by Virginia New Majority and the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACALAO) about working together to bring this issue forward. I introduced Senate Bill 390 that would have allowed the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue a temporary driver’s visitor’s driver’s license to anyone who (1) resided in Virginia for one year, (2) had filed a Virginia tax return or been claimed as a dependent another Virginia tax return and (3) paid a $53 fee. These licenses would be conspicuously marked with language stating “NOT FOR FEDERAL USE” so it is clear that they are not compliant with the Real ID Act.
Similar legislation has now been passed in over twelve states: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Illinois, Vermont, Connecticut, Maryland, District of Columbia, New Mexico, and Washington. Other states are considering it. Why is this legislation a good idea?
Reason #1 – Reducing Accidents
New residents do not know the rules of the road. According to the DMV, in other states where this has been implemented, over 80% of applicants fail the driving test and need to retake the test. Having informed driver’s is good for everyone. Data from California showed that people without driver’s licenses were three times more likely to cause a fatal accident. The states with the longest record of providing licenses to all residents have experienced nearly a 100% larger drop in traffic fatalities than the nationwide average. This legislation will save lives.
Reason #2 – Reducing Hit and Runs
States adopting these measures have seen significant reductions in hit and run accidents. Analyses by AAA have found that 41% of hit and run drivers lack a driver’s license and that unlicensed drivers are 66.36 times more likely to be hit and run drivers. When people do not fear prosecution they stop and collisions are dealt with appropriately through our system.
Reason #3 – Lower Virginia Insurance Premiums
More insured drivers means risk spread among more people, fewer accidents with uninsured drivers, and lower premiums for everyone.
Reason #4 – Increase Interaction With Law Enforcement
Residents with government ID are much more likely to interact with law enforcement whether it’s for car accidents, domestic violence or to come forward as witnesses for other crimes. Government ID means greater civic participation.
Reason #5 – More Tax Revenue
There are an estimated 400,000 people who would benefit from this. If 80% of estimated eligible Virginians sign up, Virginia will collect $1.7 million in new licensing fees per year. If each new licensed driver claims $35,000 per year in taxable Virginia income, they would pay an additional $1,755 of state income taxes per person or a total of $561 million per year of new tax revenue. If 200,000 new auto insurance policies are purchased for $1,000 per year, it will result in $225 million per year of new auto insurance premium tax revenue.
Reason #6 – Provide All Virginians A High Quality of Life
Licenses allow people to enjoy a healthy quality of life. Licenses mean being able to take children to soccer games, drive to work, get a bank account, or get to the doctor.
The Way Forward
The legislation was supported by the McAuliffe Administration and the DMV has assembled a working group including representatives from law enforcement, the immigrant community, faith groups, driving safety groups, criminal defense, courts, chambers of commerce, taxation, human trafficking, and local governments to come up with consensus legislation.
Hopefully, next year, this legislation will pass so that everyone living in Virginia can enjoy a healthy quality of life. If you have any feedback, please send me a note at [email protected].
Good morning – Thinking about buying a home? Attend a FREE Homeownership Seminar Saturday, April 9 that 9:00am. Then, learn how to manage your finances by attending a Smart Money Management workshop on Tuesday, April 12 at 7:00pm. Both programs are held at Sudley North Government Center and brought to you by Virginia Cooperative Extension Financial Education & Housing Counseling Program. To register call 703-792-6287 or email [email protected]. Read More
Assault & Battery on a Corrections Officer – On March 29 at 6:20AM, officers responded to investigate an assault on a corrections officer which occurred at the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center located at 9320 Lee Ave in Manassas (20110) on March 29 at 11:20PM. The investigation revealed that a corrections officer was searching the cell of the accused. During the encounter, the accused became agitated and pushed the officer. The accused was quickly detained without further incident. No injuries were reported. Following the investigation, the accused was arrested.Arrested on March 29:
Ethan William BROMMER, 25, of No Fixed Address
Charged with assault & battery on a corrections officer
Court Date: June 15, 2016 | Bond: Held WITHOUT BondThis article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
An Army Colonel paralyzed in an mountain biking accident wants to come home to Haymarket.
Phil Swinford is a retired Army Colonel who has served multiple tours of duty served. Back at home, Swinford is a father, husband, and a volunteer assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 581.
In July of 2015, he was in a mountain biking accident which caused an incomplete C2 fracture, ultimately leading to Swinford suffering from quadriplegic paralysis.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
In the past two weeks, I reviewed action on my legislation and the state budget. This column covers some of the major bills to pass the state legislature. Read More
I am typing these words of good news on the night of Friday, March 11th, on the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates in Richmond. We just adjourned the 2016 legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly with approval of a bipartisan two-year Virginia state budget. The good news: The budget is balanced, cautious, sensible, and doesn’t increase taxes or fees.
As a member of the 22-member House Appropriations Committee (HAC), I have been engaged since December with crafting the budget, along with two other Prince William County legislators, Del. Scott M. Lingamfelter (R-31st) and Del. Luke M. Torian (D-52nd). I serve on three HAC subcommittee (Public Safety, Transportation, and Higher Education), so I had a hand in developing these three parts of the budget.
Here in bullet fashion are the highlights of the budget we approved Friday night:
– It was passed by large margins in a spirit of bipartisan cooperation in both houses of the General Assembly.
– It was completed early, permitting the General Assembly to adjourn one day early, saving taxpayers $25,000.
– It is balanced, fair, and cautious. Unlike the federal government, we build the budget like you build your family budget, with common sense and without gimmicks.
– It doesn’t increase taxes or fees.
– It represents a spending decrease of 5% over the last 10 years, when adjusted for population and inflation.
– It funds the core functions of state government from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018.
– It eliminates state liabilities, reduces borrowing, and makes one-time investments rather than long-term spending commitments.
– It funds investments in economic development to grow businesses and create jobs.
– It invests $73M more for K-12 public education than Gov. McAuliffe proposed, for a total of $900M.
– It includes $36M for Cost to Compete for school employees in Northern Virginia (a budget amendment that I co-patroned with several of my PWC colleagues).
– It includes $100K for the VaSTAR (Virginia Student Training and Refurbishment Program) computer rehab program administered by PWC Schools (a budget amendment for which I was Chief Patron).
– It invests $78M more for higher education than Gov. McAuliffe proposed.
– It includes $114M for operations and maintenance at colleges and universities and $48M for undergraduate financial aid to hold the line on tuition increases.
– It includes a 2% teacher pay raise, a 2% pay raise for state-supported local employees, and a 3% pay raise for state employees and state police.
– It deposits $605M in the state rainy day fund to raise the balance to $845M in two years as a hedge against the unforeseen.
– It funds the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) at 100% of the Board-certified rate (two years early). It repays VRS $189.5M owed from a funding deferral in 2010 (six years early).
While this is a lot of information, it’s not all-inclusive, so go to the state budget website for details: https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/amendments/2016/1
No budget is perfect in every respect. This budget is no different in that regard, but the bipartisan, bicameral way in which it was approved says that it is a sound spending plan. We have a second crack at improving it next January when we can offer amendments during the 2017 legislative session of the General Assembly. In the meantime, I sincerely thank our neighbors for the privilege of working on their behalf in crafting the state budget.
I’ll be back home with Ruth and on the job in Prince William County the week of March 14th, and I look forward to getting back to the rigors of community life. Although the General Assembly session has ended, my duty to you has not. If I may assist you or your family in any way, please don’t hesitate to call or email.
I’m easily reached at [email protected] or at our legislative district office (571-264-9983). My legislative aide, Ryan Galloway, is at [email protected]. If your need is urgent and can’t wait until the next business day, please call my Woodbridge home at 703-730-1380. We’re here for you.
Many thanks for the privilege of serving you and your family at home and in Richmond!
