WEEK IN REVIEW

Prince William County supervisors unanimously approved a resolution targeting illegal immigrants by attempting to curb their access to public services and increasing immigration enforcement by police.

The resolution weakens a previous proposal, removing or altering several of its toughest measures but asking county employees to look for ways to lawfully deny services to illegal immigrants.
The resolution places Prince William at the forefront of Virginia jurisdictions that are trying to check illegal immigration.

Board Approves Spending IncreaseBoost in Regional Taxes Will Fund Transportation

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority approved $300 million a year for road and mass transit projects financed by regional tax increases.

The increases apply to the grantor's tax on the sale of a home, the value of new vehicles, local registration fees, safety inspection fees and a tax on auto repairs. Area hotel taxes and car-rental fees also will go up.

'Abusive Driver' Fees to Be ReassessedGOP Considers Scrapping Them for Minor Offenses

Virginia GOP leaders, faced with growing opposition to "abusive driver" fees that went into effect July 1, said they will consider scrapping some of them when the General Assembly convenes in January.

The fees, some of which exceed $1,000 for each infraction, were part of a transportation plan that lawmakers approved this year. They were designed to raise millions of dollars each year for road and transit projects by imposing surcharges onto the fines for Virginia motorists convicted of serious traffic offenses, such as driving under the influence.

Lawmakers said they made a mistake because the fees also can be assessed on motorists who are convicted of less serious offenses.

source : www.washingtonpost.com