Bacon's Rebellion

Another Reason to Vote for Chris Craddock

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by

James A. Bacon
in

Chris Craddock, a Republican candidate for a House of Delegates seat in western Fairfax County, has a little driving problem. The 27-year-old youth minister has racked up nine driving tickets over the past five years, including a citation last week for reckless driving, the Washington Post reports.

The politics of transportation could get interesting in the 2006 General Assembly if both Craddock and Republican gubernatorial nominee Jerry Kilgore win their races in November. Kilgore has proposed levying heavier fines on traffic scofflaws as a way of discouraging the kind of reckless behavior that causes traffic accidents and creates traffic gridlock. He also sees the fines as a revenue stream to pay for more road improvements.

Craddock’s Democratic opponent, Chuck Caputo, says the tickets show Craddock’s unfitness for office. But I rather like the idea of electing a politician who will help pay the cost of government out of his own pocket!

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  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    The traffic tickets issue is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.

  2. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Okay, I have no problem with higher fines and tougher enforcement. But the Virginia Constitution explicitly states that fines are deposited in the Literary Fund, for the ulimate benefit of education (school construction loans, teacher retirement). The reason fines are not put in the general fund is to discourage using them as a revenue source rather than as a way to deter bad behavior. Imagine if the police agencies themselves kept a cut!

    So if raiding the transporation fund to maintain education funding in hard times is a bad thing (and it is), why is it a good thing to stiff the Literary Fund to help roads? The 2005 bill got around this by calling them “civil penalties” rather than “fines” but is that really good policy?

    How’s about we just use transportation sources to pay for that, and leave education alone? Just a question.

  3. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    I saw the claim in the Post about the “reckless” charge as well. From what I’ve been able to gather from the county information online, there is no “reckless” charge pending. Only speeding. Now, the amount in excess over the limit was more than 20 mph I believe, which can make it a charge of “reckless”, but that is supposedly up to the discretion of the officer. Is the WAPO reading more than the facts into this?

    In the end, I agree, the ticket issue should not be an issue. BTW, Caputo himself has now admitted to having traffic tickets himself. While he may not have had as many or as recent, it sure makes his statements on the issue sound rather hypocritical.

  4. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    The number of tickets and types of violations bespeak a disregard for public safety that should be disqualifying. I’m not in that district, but have followed the race and would have voted for Craddock but for the tickets. These are the times he got caught. It’s probably safe to assume that they aren’t the only times he’s risked his and other folks safety. At some level, it reflects on character and discipline.

    I like Mr. Bacon’s idea of finding a way to bolster the state’s finances off these serial violations. Does a Delegate get any sort of immunity while the General Assmebly is meeting? If so, I’d say that this would be another reason to keep Craddock out of Richmond.

  5. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    General Assembly members may not be arrested during the session except for “treason, felony or breach of the peace”; they may not be arrested under a civil warrant during and 15 days prior and after session, and their speeches or debate “shall not be questioned in any other place.”

    Traffic tickets are not prohibited but the can’t be forced to go to court until post session. However, those license plates are golden. Not pure immunity, but lots of cops decline to pull them.

  6. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    I find it hard to believe that Craddock is running for Delegate simply to get out of traffic tickets. That’s laughable!

    And I suppose Caputo would be off your list as well since he has admitted to having tickets?

    Using traffic tickets as a sole reason not to vote for someone is short-sighted and belies that you believe other issues take second fiddle. I find that hard to believe. If someone has been found guilty of actually injuring someone in a traffic incident or is guilty of truly reckless driving (DWI for example) I might agree, but I have been passed by too many people doing 20+ over the limit to believe it is ALWAYS endangering to others. In fact, I believe that is why the “reckless” charge is in the eyes of the officer and not a guarantee.

  7. NoVA Scout Avatar
    NoVA Scout

    So I guess we’re being told that sending Craddock to Richmond has significant negative revenue impacts. I wonder if the budget forecasters have tumbled to this.

  8. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    That abuser fees proposal is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. It’s, quite frankly, just another way to get money to Dave Albo’s law firm (like nearly every other bill he proposes).

  9. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    I’d say the biggest issue for Mr. Craddock is the fact he does not have a single endorsement outside of Republican elected officials. Traffic tickets have nothing to do with much of the business community not wanting to go near this kid.

  10. Providence Progressive Avatar
    Providence Progressive

    I don’t see how may tickets he’ll get going down to Richmond. I’ve taken I-95 and all that traffic will slow him down! Seriously though, out of all “Virginia’s Least Wanted” only one lost a primary. If the Democrat wins this race I see it as a rejection of the Norquist crowd.

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