Crocktown

RICHMOND- Interstate 81 will become a testing ground this summer for a new transportation funding scheme devised this week by a bipartisan committee of General Assembly members.

Under the plan, some vehicles entering the state on I-81 but not bearing Virginia license plates will be given automatic traffic tickets of $75 to $182, based on the weight of the vehicles.

Under pressure from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the assembly will exempt business vehicles. Also exempt will be what the legislation calls "kinship vehicles," consisting of vehicles from states "not in an area generally Northeast of Virginia" in addition to all pickup trucks.

A state police spokesman said that statistically, more than 65 percent of so-called "foreign-state vehicles" commit traffic infractions in the Old Dominion, while fewer than five percent are caught and ticketed.

"More than likely, they deserve the tickets," he said.

Motorists who can prove they did not commit a traffic violation while in Virginia can then apply for a refund of the "pre-fine" or "spec ticket" amount.

If the program raises enough money and survives court challenges, it will be expanded in 2009 to Interstate 95, with vehicles from Florida added to the automatic suspect list.