On June 22nd, the Board of Supervisors was asked by the County Attorney to codify several of the new laws in Prince William, including all of the traffic and transportation related offenses from the previous article. Supervisors Vega, Candland, and Lawson voiced their opposition and also voted against codifying them in a 5-3 party-line vote.
Supervisor Candland said “this reflects an out-of-control general assembly down in Richmond. I really hope that every citizen in Prince William County will take a look at this document and see the type of changes that have occurred. A lot of these rules make our citizens less safe.”
Supervisor Lawson called the new laws coming down from Richmond, which were passed with the support of Prince William County’s state delegation as “reckless.” “These laws have made our roads less safe. Our pedestrians less safe. And motorists less safe.” Lawson then commented on the amount of calls supervisor offices and police have already been receiving about loud exhaust pipes contributing to decreased quality of life in county neighborhoods. She continued, “I’m astounded that the majority of the general assembly, the Democrats in the general assembly in a straight party-line vote thought that police officers shouldn’t be allowed to pull over vehicles that don’t have their headlights on. I understand the state forces these laws on localities, but I’m going to be voicing my opposition against it because so many of these new laws in Virginia are frankly dangerous and leave us and the community less safe.”
Supervisor Vega followed with, “there are so many bad laws that stand out today and it’s important for people in Prince William to know what we’re voting for today and ultimately what the board majority will probably support.” She continued, “there are so many rules that prohibit the work of what our police can do,” while mentioning the expired license plates, stickers, car defects, head lights, tail lights, brake lights, jaywalking, and blocking of roadways in addition to the decriminalization of shoplifting and larceny. “I cannot support something that makes our residents less safe.”
– Coles District Staff