CrimLaw

All of us in Virginia have been waiting with baited breath in hope of a more rational criminal code. It's not coming. Showing an amazing amount of cowardice the legislators turn away from much needed changes because the Merchants' Association told them to.

And that story which the Association fops off on the legislators each time serious changes are contemplated is pure, unadulterated [garbage]. Professional criminals do not purposefully keep their thefts just under $200 because they know it's a misdemeanor. The 3d time they are caught (and believe me the low level criminals who do this kind of check scamming and shoplifting are caught) it's a felony anyway and it would still be if the threshold for a felony rises to a more sane amount such as $500. On the other hand, how many times have I stood there with a stupid 18 year old, no previous record kid who, on an immature impulse, shoplifted a $208 video card or a really cool $225 MP3 player or whatever and watched his life be destroyed as a felony is hung around his neck for the rest of it? Too many.

All in all our Legislature deserves this:

(Lv SW Va Law)