Courts are slowly reopening in Virginia, but should they continue collecting fines and fees during the downturn?
Virginia courts collect a number of fines and fees, like the $10 charge for setting up an installment plan to start paying down other fines and fees.
Phil Hernandez at the Commonwealth Institute says all these fines and fees are a regressive tax that places the heaviest burden on low-income families — especially now while many people are struggling to make ends meet. "Given the gravity of the economic challenges that people are facing right now, it doesn’t make sense to be overly punitive. We would like to see the Supreme Court extend that relief at least through the special session where the General Assembly will come together again later this summer.”
Legal expert Rich Kelsey says he does not expect the Supreme Court to start waiving fines and fees. “The problem with that is that the court would effectively be legislating from the bench for the sole purpose of suspending the fees until the legislature did its job, and I don’t think the legislature wants to step into that breach.”
At the end of June, new delinquent accounts will be referred to collections, unless the Supreme Court decides to take action or the General Assembly steps in and passes a new law.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
