Latest news with #STEERAct
Axios
29-04-2025
- Axios
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.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
3 Maryland drivers sued by DC Attorney General for over $90k in unpaid tickets
WASHINGTON () — D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced Friday that lawsuits have been filed against three Maryland men who each have over $20,000 in unpaid tickets. This is the first lawsuit the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has filed under the new authority granted by the DC Council to bring civil enforcement actions against dangerous drivers with a significant number of unpaid tickets. This includes tickets for speeding, reckless driving, and other traffic violations. Maryland woman sentenced to life for killing, dismembering her mother Schwalb noted that under the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Act, the OAG can hold these drivers accountable and sue drivers wherever they live. 'Traffic deaths in the District are at historic levels – 52 people tragically lost their lives in traffic crashes last year alone. Too many drivers dangerously speed through the District and, as a result, too many District residents don't feel safe walking in their neighborhoods. Like the three defendants we've sued today, many of the drivers wreaking havoc on our streets come from outside DC and have snubbed their noses at our traffic laws,' said Schwalb in a release. Under this act, the OAG is suing Andre E. Bowman, Earl D. Curtis and Leon L. Carter. Officials noted that Bowman owes D.C. $36,986 for 135 traffic infractions, including 94 for speeding. From August 2013 to March 2024, he accrued 135 citations with five different license plates. AG Schwalb suing DC restaurant for allegedly underpaying employees, denying overtime, sick leave A total of 94 citations were for speeding—including three for aggravated reckless driving at speeds 30 MPH or more over the speed limit. Curtis owed D.C. $27,882 for 115 traffic infractions, including 52 for speeding. Between December 2012 to August 2014, he received 115 citations across five different license plates. In a year alone, he was ticketed 82 times for speeding and other dangerous violations. In September 2024, Curtis hit a child in a crosswalk at the intersection of 6th and D Streets in Northeast D.C. The child was treated at a hospital for a foot injury. Last, Carter had 84 citations across six license plates from June 2013 to August 2022. Schwalb said 80 were for speeding. 'Excellent work by DC Attorney General Schwalb to use a new tool created by the STEER Act to go after people who speed and drive recklessly, putting everyone around them at risk,' said Councilmember Charles Allen. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
DC sues 3 Maryland drivers for $90K in unpaid traffic fines: Attorney General
The Brief DC sues three Maryland men for over $90,000 in unpaid traffic fines. New amendment allows DC to sue out-of-state drivers with numerous violations. Attorney General emphasizes enforcement to protect Washingtonians' lives. WASHINGTON - The District has announced lawsuits against three Maryland men for failing to pay over $90,000 in fines for dangerous driving violations, according to the Office of the Attorney General. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb stated that the lawsuits were filed against: Andre E. Bowman, who owes the District $36,986 for 135 traffic infractions, including 94 for speeding. READ MORE Earl D. Curtis, who owes the District $27,882 for 115 traffic infractions, including 52 for speeding. READ MORE Leon L. Carter, who owes the District $30,666 for 84 traffic infractions, including 80 for speeding. READ MORE Schwalb noted that these lawsuits are the first filed by the OAG under the new STEER Act, an amendment that allows actions to be taken against dangerous drivers with large numbers of unpaid tickets for speeding, reckless driving, and other traffic violations. The STEER Act enables the Attorney General's Office to sue drivers who break traffic laws in the District, even if they reside outside of D.C. "Like the three defendants we've sued today, many of the drivers wreaking havoc on our streets come from outside D.C. and have snubbed their noses at our traffic laws," Attorney General Schwalb said in a press release. "I'm grateful to Councilmember Allen for leading the passage of the STEER Act, which gives my office new authority to hold dangerous scofflaw drivers accountable, wherever they live. As D.C.'s independent Attorney General, I plan to enforce this new law aggressively, making clear that there are consequences for any driver that puts Washingtonians' lives at risk." Schwalb added that 52 people lost their lives in traffic crashes last year in the District. The Source DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and FOX 5 DC
Axios
21-02-2025
- Axios
D.C. slaps reckless Maryland drivers with lawsuits
334 traffic violations. Over $95,000 in outstanding fines. One big crackdown. Some of the most reckless drivers in the DMV are finally being held accountable by the D.C. Attorney General's Office. Why it matters: D.C. has started suing individuals for dangerous driving under the new STEER Act, a set of laws designed to crack down on reckless, repeat offenders. State of play: The AG's Office filed lawsuits against three drivers, including Maryland resident Earl Curtis, who struck and injured a child in a Capitol Hill crosswalk last year. He was sentenced to six days in jail as part of a plea deal. Starting in 2012, the D.C. OAG alleges Curtis amassed 115 citations across five vehicles — including 55 for excessive speeding — all of which the AG says he failed to pay ($27,882 in total). Another was filed against Maryland resident Leon Carter, who the AG says owes the District $30,666 for 84 alleged traffic infractions, including 80 for speeding. The biggest number of infractions are alleged against Andre Bowman, who the AG says racked up 135 violations across five different Maryland license plates, including 94 for speeding. Bowman owes D.C. $36,986, the AG says. Catch up quick: The D.C. Council unanimously passed the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education and Responsibility Act last year. One of the key initiatives was empowering the D.C. Attorney General to bring civil lawsuits against drivers who racked up egregious infractions and fines — regardless of where they're registered. That's especially important as D.C. doesn't have ticket reciprocity with Maryland and Virginia, and it's been historically difficult to hold drivers outside the District accountable.
