Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 26, 1993 TAG: 9301260114
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
DULLES COMMUTER RELIEF INSPIRES BILL
People who illegally use the access road to Dulles Airport to speed their commute or save money on tolls could get some relief under legislation discussed Monday.Sen. Charles Waddell, D-Loudoun County, said people who use the road should not receive three points on their driving record in addition to a $50 fine.
Waddell has introduced a bill that would eliminate the demerits. The fine would remain. Only traffic on airport business is allowed on the access road.
Waddell also joined Lt. Gov. Don Beyer and Northern Virginia legislators in support of a resolution that would allow vehicles with more than three people to use the access road during rush hours.
"It's not an unsafe move," Waddell said after getting the Senate to reconsider his bill removing driver's license points.
Commuters going to Washington from western Fairfax County and other localities in the area drive to the airport, get onto the access road and then make two left turns so they can continue to Washington. These commuters avoid the tolls - and the congestion - on the adjacent Dulles Toll Road.
But the punishment for taking the shortcut is too severe, Waddell said. The points place "in jeopardy their driver's license and it also would lead to a raising in their insurance rates," he said later.
Sen. Edward Holland, D-Arlington, said the bill would tie the hands of police. The fine alone is not enough to deter people from illegally using the airport access road, he said.
"The toll road is the adjacent road," Holland said. "That's the road these people should be using."
The full Senate is to consider the bill today.
The Senate also on Monday:
Gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow persons convicted of minor offenses such as writing bad checks to be employed by nursing homes. A bill approved last year prohibits those convicted of a number of crimes from such employment.
Tentatively approved two bills that would allow school boards across the state to establish day-care programs before and after school. The bills also would allow the city of Petersburg to establish a day-care program during school hours for children of students who live in the school division and are enrolled in a public school in Petersburg.
Gave preliminary approval to a bill that would increase the maximum speed for school buses on interstate highways from 45 mph to 55 mph, and a bill allowing law enforcement officers to use laser speed detection devices to check for speeders.
The pace of bill filings picked up as today's deadline approached. Among the scores of bills introduced Monday were measures to increase the state sales tax by a half-cent and to strip the governor of his authority to appoint Virginia Retirement System board members.
Del. Ford Quillen, D-Gate City, wants the half-cent sales tax increase used to eliminate funding disparities in public schools. Del. Chip Woodrum, D-Roanoke, proposed allowing the General Assembly to appoint VRS board members beginning in 1994.
Woodrum's bill was prompted by Attorney General Mary Sue Terry's report criticizing the VRS board, which is run by Gov. Douglas Wilder's appointees.
Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Committee signaled strong support for several budget amendments, including pay raises for teachers and public employees. Wilder has proposed a 2 percent raise for state workers but no raises for teachers.
There also was nearly unanimous support among committee members for restoring $3.4 million to the Cooperative Extension Service and $4.9 million to public libraries.
Del. Earl Dickenson, D-Louisa County, said 97 of the 100 delegates and all 40 senators signed the extension service amendment.
"What we're going to have to do is roll up our sleeves and do the best we can with the little we have at the time," said Del. Robert Ball, D-Richmond and chairman of the committee.
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Resources heard from mental health and government groups about a proposal that would emphasize treating emotionally and disturbed children and those who commit crimes in the community instead of in more expensive residential care.
Groups representing local governments showed cautious support for the proposal, but expressed concern about potential costs to localities.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1993