private function _checkVariableNameLength($name) {
		if ($this->_isActive('localScopeVariableLength')) {

			// we remove the $ sign
			$name = substr($name, 1);

			// we check for exceptions to the rule
			if ($this->_config->isException('localScopeVariableLength', $name)) {
				return;
			}

			$length = strlen($name);
			$min = $this->_config->getTestProperty('localScopeVariableLength', 'minLength');
			$max = $this->_config->getTestProperty('localScopeVariableLength', 'maxLength');

			// we check the min length
			if (!empty($min) && ($length < $min)) {
				$msg = $this->_getMessage('VARIABLE_NAMING_LENGTH_SHORT', $name);
				$this->_writeError('localScopeVariableLength', $msg);
			}

			// we check the max length
			if (!empty($max) && ($length > $max)) {
				$msg = $this->_getMessage('VARIABLE_NAMING_LENGTH_LONG', $name);
				$this->_writeError('localScopeVariableLength', $msg);
			}
		}
	}