New Fee is Bad Idea

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 

The building of the Dulles Toll Road in the 1980s was viewed as a way to provide traffic congestion relief to western Fairfax County at a time when Routes 7 and 50 or a series of secondary roads were the only ways to get from Reston to Tysons Corner and beyond.  It was clear at the time that the state would not be able to fund another road until decades into the future.  From the earliest discussion of the road being paid for by tolls I was always an advocate for the electronic collection of tolls, a novel idea for its time.  My personal investigation of the use of transponders on vehicles as a way to collect tolls found that such a system was being used on a roadway in Texas.  I looked into that system and found that it used a transponder that was about the size of a large candy bar that was bolted to the back of the license plate.  By the time Virginia got around to investing in an electronic toll collection system, transponders had been reduced in size to the small box that we now attach to our windshields.

Virginia went its own way in adopting a "smart tag" electronic toll collection system rather than invest in the systems that were by that time being introduced in other states.  That caused a concern on the part of many locals who drove the turnpikes in other states and wanted a transponder that would work on all the roads.  Virginia finally adopted the E-ZPass that not only collects tolls on Virginia highways but on tollways in other states as well.

Electronic toll collecting was received with much acclaim.  There was no longer a reason to save quarters and keep a supply in the car.  Special lanes allowed drivers to slow down rather than stop at the toll booths.  And the state saved money from not having to hire all those toll collectors.  The roadways could carry more people as the traffic flowed more freely through the toll booths.

Recently the Virginia Department of Transportation announced that it was considering a one-dollar-per-month rental fee on E-ZPass transponders.  Seems that VDOT is expecting to have to buy more transponders as there will be more toll roads like the HOT lanes on the Beltway in the future.  Ironically, the system that was considered in the past to save money over having to hire toll collectors is being considered an extra expense.

For many years I argued that people who use electronic transponders to pay their tolls should be given some discount to encourage them and others to use the system that saves the state money and eases the flow of traffic.  I was told that bond financing terms did not permit discounts.

I have written to the Governor, Secretary of Transportation, and the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation to express my strong opposition to the fee.  We should not be adding fees for a service that saves the state money.  It is a bad idea that should not be approved.

Virginia Dept. of Health Shares Data on Adolescent Behaviors

The Virginia Department of Health recently released data gathered in the Virginia Youth Survey last fall on the health behaviors of high school students.  This data provides timely and critical information to help parents, physicians, and other stakeholders who work with youth and highlights the risks that adolescents experience routinely.  The survey examined student health behaviors and explored teens' attitudes and beliefs about various behaviors related to safety, mental health, tobacco use, substance use, nutrition, and physical activity.  Last fall 1,440 students in 36 public high schools in Virginia completed the survey, and results are now available.  To view the entire report, go to www.vdh.virginia.gov/ofhs/youthsurvey or call the VDH Office of Family Health Services' Division of Policy and Evaluation at 804.864.7671.

Summer Officially Arrives Tomorrow!

To learn more about rain barrels, native plants, composting, and reducing synthetic chemicals in your yard, schedule a meeting in your neighborhood by contacting REACT (Reston Environmental Action) member Bob Mowbray at rmowbray@verizon.net.

Call Before You Dig - It's the Law!

One easy phone call to 811 starts the process to get your underground pipelines and utility lines marked for FREE.  When you call 811 from anywhere in the country, your call will be routed to your state One-Call Center.  Once your underground lines have been marked for your project, you will know the approximmate locaiton of your pipelines and utility lines and can continue your project by digging with care and respecting the marks.  More information regarding 811 can be found at www.call811.com.

Bureau of Insurance Advises About Force or Lender Placed Insurance

When you take out a loan to buy a vehicle, house, or commercial property, your lender will require that you buy and keep insurance on the property for the term of the loan.  If you fail to maintain adequate insurance coverage on the property or vehicle you are purchasing, the lender will buy an insurance policy -- often called force or lender placed covereage -- and add it to the cost of your loan payment.  The Bureau of Insurance cautions that if your lender force places insurance on your property, your interest in that property may not be fully recovered.  In addition, if your home is damaged by fire or another insured peril, the lender's force placed coverage may only pay to repair the structure and will not pay for loss to your personal property.  Be sure to maintain adequate coverage on your property as required by your lender.  Send written proof of insurance to your lender when you purchase insurance or any tme the lender asks for proof of coverage.  Make sure you understand your responsibilities under your loan agreement, including the deadline to buy insurance.  If a lender force places coverage on your property, shop around for and secure your own insurance coverage as soon as possible to save money and to better protect your interests.  For more information about force placed coverage and many other insurance-related topics, visit www.scc.virginia.gov/boi.

Virginia Private College Week July 30-August 4

Many families will be visiting Virginia's colleges and universities this summer to find the ones that best fit their students' needs.  If you visit three or more participating colleges during Virginia Private College Week, you will receive three application fee waivers.  This means NO APPLICATION FEE for three Virginia private colleges of your choice.  Call 540.586.0606 or visit www.vaprivatecolleges.org for details.