(SB764)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 764, which would significantly expand the use of deferred dispositions in criminal cases. The enrolled bill would permit the lessening or removal of penalties across a range of crimes.

Senate Bill 764 removes key guardrails that help ensure consistency and fairness, and it pre-empts a Commonwealth's Attorney's ability to prosecute some cases.

I am particularly concerned about the application of this bill to DUI offenses. Virginia has worked hard to reduce DUI-related crashes and fatalities, but impaired driving continues to take lives and devastate families across the Commonwealth.

Virginia's criminal justice system must be fair, equitable, and focused on rehabilitation as well as accountability and public safety, and Senate Bill 764 undermines accountability and public safety.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.