After Fairfax police ticket cars awaiting state inspection, Va. passes law banning it

[mahatmakanejeeves]

After Fairfax police ticket cars awaiting state inspection, Va. passes law banning it

By Tom Jackman April 7
@TomJackmanWP

The story of Bruce Redwine and the Chantilly Service Center made people mad. For years, he and other auto shop owners watched with outrage as a Fairfax County parking enforcement officer ticketed cars that were awaiting state inspection or repair. One shop owner estimated his customers had been hit with $60,000 worth of fines and fees for expired inspection stickers or tags over six years. Redwine got so angry he snatched one ticket out of the parking officer’s hand, only to be charged with felony assault on a police officer.

State Del. James M. LeMunyon (R-Fairfax) investigated the situation after reading about it in The Washington Post in October. He introduced a bill in December to prohibit ticketing cars awaiting state inspection, and it passed both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly unanimously. On Wednesday, Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed the bill into law, his spokesman said.

“Cool,” said Redwine, working as usual in his shop in the Mariah Business Center off Route 28 Wednesday afternoon. “Absolutely it’s a good thing. But most people waiting for inspections weren’t a target. Here, people were targeted by the condo association, which was using the Fairfax parking police as their agent. It’s not so much the police were targeting as the [condominium management],” he said, using a more colorful adjective for the association which oversees the industrial park on Sullyfield Circle.

{Fairfax car repair shops say parking enforcement targets their customers}

Previously at DU:

Fairfax tickets cars for needing inspection — while they wait for inspections

[Wilms]

1. More super-predators. n/t