In Alexandria, Virginia, hardworking families are being pushed into financial crisis because of a harsh and outdated law that allows the city to block DMV vehicle registration over personal property taxes—even when residents are trying their best to pay.

This practice doesn’t help people catch up. It traps them in deeper debt, creates unnecessary hardship, and leaves many without the ability to legally drive to work, take their children to school, or even get groceries.

This needs to change!

 
My Story

My name is Derrick, and I’m a resident of Alexandria, a parent, and someone who works hard to provide for my family. I am not someone who runs from my obligations. When I owe something, I pay it.

On November 21, 2025, I called Nationwide Credit Corporation (NCC), the city’s collections agency, and asked them very clearly:

“Please tell me every balance I owe so I can pay it today.”
They told me that only my 2023–2024 taxes were outstanding.
I paid every penny that same day.

I believed everything was resolved.

But on November 24, 2025—only one business day later—I received a notice showing that my 2025 taxes had suddenly been marked as “Referred to NCC.” These taxes were only 49 days past due, far less than the 90-day window Alexandria publicly claims to follow before sending accounts to collections.

This immediately kept the DMV block on my vehicle in place.
Now, because my registration expires on November 30th, I am at risk of:

Having my car towed from my apartment complex
Being charged $75 a day in impound fees
Being unable to retrieve the car
Being unable to get to work
Being unable to take my children where they need to go

I can pay the 2025 amount on December 5th, but the city’s sudden timing and lack of communication turned a simple payment into a financial trap.

I am sharing my story because I know I am not alone—many Alexandria residents have faced this exact nightmare.

 
The Bigger Problem:

Under current Virginia law (VA Code § 46.2-752), localities can block vehicle registration renewals if taxes are owed.

But here’s the reality:

• A DMV block stays active even if a person is on a payment plan
• Residents who are trying to pay are treated the same as those who ignore their taxes
• Towing companies profit while families suffer
• Impound fees grow faster than people can pay

One unexpected financial hardship can ruin a family for months. And all of this happens to people who are actively working and taking responsibility. § 46.2‑752 is not a system designed to help citizens succeed—it’s a system that pushes them into deeper struggle.

 
What We Are Asking For

We are calling on the Virginia General Assembly, the City of Alexandria, and the Virginia DMV to reform this policy so families are not trapped by an impossible cycle.

We ask for:
✔ Removal of DMV blocks for residents on payment plans
People who are paying should NOT be punished or willing to sign an agreement with the City or participating department.

✔ A grace period or registration extension when taxes are owed to prevent unnecessary towing and financial ruin.

✔ Prohibition on towing unregistered vehicles when registration cannot be renewed due to a tax-related DMV block

✔ Better communication and notice before a tax becomes delinquent or referred

✔ A compassionate, resident-centered policy that allows families to recover, not collapse

 
Why This Petition Matters
You don’t have to live in Alexandria to understand this.

You just have to imagine:

Being told you owe nothing
Paying everything they told you
Then suddenly being hit with a new bill
While your car faces towing
And you’re left powerless to fix it in time
No family should be put in this position—ever.

We aren’t asking to eliminate taxes.
We aren’t asking to avoid responsibility.
We are asking for a fair chance to pay, without being trapped in a cycle that destroys people who are already doing their best.

 
Please sign and share this petition.
Together, we can push Alexandria and Virginia to change a policy that is outdated, unnecessary, and deeply harmful to the very people it claims to help.

Your signature can help protect families, workers, parents, and neighbors from a system that places punishment over compassion.

Thank you for reading my story—and for standing with us.