The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for the District of Columbia has filed lawsuits against five drivers—one from Maryland and four from Virginia—after they failed to pay a combined $425,000 in traffic fines.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, May 6, with D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb revealing that each driver is being sued under the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Act, a new law passed in February 2024.
Hundreds of Violations Across the Region
According to the Attorney General, all the violations occurred on Washington, D.C. streets and involved repeated offenses including speeding, running red lights, and ignoring stop signs.
The Maryland Driver
The Maryland motorist is accused of racking up 344 traffic violations—316 for speeding and 61 for driving over 30 mph above the speed limit—in just two years. Their unpaid fine total: $187,200.
The Four Virginia Drivers
The remaining four drivers from Virginia have accumulated more than 800 tickets combined:
- Driver 1: Owes $77,100 for 244 infractions, including 202 speeding tickets and eight instances of speeding over 30 mph above the limit.
- Driver 2: Faces $69,456 in fines for 263 violations, with 246 for speeding.
- Driver 3: Has been fined $58,608 for 197 infractions, including 163 speeding citations.
- Driver 4: Owes $31,316 for 159 violations, including 30 for speeding, 20 for red-light running, and 15 for ignoring stop signs.
New Laws Target Out-of-State Offenders
These lawsuits were made possible by the STEER Act, which gives D.C. the power to hold drivers accountable even if they don’t reside in the District.
“Too many drivers think they can speed recklessly through the District, putting the safety of Washingtonians and visitors at risk, with no financial consequences for their lawlessness,” said Attorney General Schwalb.
“These suits reflect our continuing commitment: If your actions behind the wheel put people’s lives at risk, we will hold you accountable, no matter where you live.”
Not the First Time
This move follows a similar legal action just two months ago, when the OAG sued three Maryland drivers for over $90,000 in unpaid traffic fines.
What’s Next for Drivers
D.C. officials are also cracking down on dangerous driving with a new law that went into effect today, enabling automatic tickets for certain violations. Drivers in and around the D.C. area are advised to stay alert and drive responsibly to avoid stiff penalties.
