D.C. targets Maryland, Virginia drivers with hundreds of violations in new lawsuits
D.C. continues to crack down on dangerous drivers with a second batch of lawsuits against Maryland and Virginia individuals who've racked up tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid fines.
Why it matters: The city struggled to hold out-of-jurisdiction drivers accountable for decades. But under the new STEER Act, the District is finally able to go after repeat offenders.
State of play: D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb's office has filed one suit against a Maryland driver who he says racked up over 300 speeding tickets in two years' time.
Schwalb also filed his first suits against Virginia drivers, suing four who he says have amassed more than 800 traffic violations in D.C. for speeding, running signs and lights, and other violations.
By the numbers: The five defendants owe D.C. around $425,000 in unpaid tickets and fees, per Schwalb.
$187,000: The most a single defendant owes D.C. for nearly 350 traffic infractions.
61: The number of speeding tickets a defendant owes that are 30+ mph over the limit, which constitutes reckless driving.
15 years: How far back one of the driver's alleged infractions extend. That individual's list of violations includes 30 citations for speeding, 20 for running red lights, and 15 for running stop signs.
Follow the money: The city's " scofflaw program" that boots and tows cars with outstanding tickets has recently accrued over $1 million in fines and towed over 700 vehicles, per the City Administrator.
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