DC going after MD and VA drivers.

[Anonymous]

If you thought crossing into Maryland and Virginia could get you out of paying those driving tickets you got in D.C., think again.

On Tuesday, the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education and Responsibility (STEER) Act went into effect in D.C. to combat dangerous drivers who don’t live in the District.

Under the new law, Attorney General for the District of Columbia Brian Schwalb will be able to sue drivers who haven’t paid tens of thousands of dollars in traffic fines — even if they don’t live in the District. Prior to this, Maryland and Virginia drivers could rack up tickets in D.C. and not be held accountable.

“The Attorney General is hiring two attorneys who are going to work full time on this, and they’re going to be taking people who have these huge sums, and they’re going to take them to court,” said D.C. Council member Charles Allen.

https://wtop.com/local/2024/10/steer-act-cracks-down-on-dangerous-driving-in-dc/

Great move. Hope they take away the cars of these repeat offenders.

[Anonymous]

Good news!

-Maryland resident

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good news!

-Maryland resident

Totally agree.
- another Maryland resident

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good news!

-Maryland resident

Totally agree.
- another Maryland resident

+2

[Anonymous]

Oh please, two attorneys bringing lawsuits against VA/MD residents is going to clog up DC courts even further and will be ignored. DC has only two employees that boot cars so they won't be doing much more with their expanded authority. Just another example of DC making a law with zero enforcement mechanisms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh please, two attorneys bringing lawsuits against VA/MD residents is going to clog up DC courts even further and will be ignored. DC has only two employees that boot cars so they won't be doing much more with their expanded authority. Just another example of DC making a law with zero enforcement mechanisms.

I cannot understand this. Why do they have so few people booting cars?

[Anonymous]

As a MD resident, I support this. If you're too stupid to learn where the speed cameras are and to adjust your behavior so that you don't speed for the five seconds that you're passing the camera, then you deserve to be sued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh please, two attorneys bringing lawsuits against VA/MD residents is going to clog up DC courts even further and will be ignored. DC has only two employees that boot cars so they won't be doing much more with their expanded authority. Just another example of DC making a law with zero enforcement mechanisms.

I cannot understand this. Why do they have so few people booting cars?

The point of the law is to obfuscate who is to blame, not to do anything. It's surprising that the chuckleheads on the council figured out a way to do it!

The AG can go after people with tickets. Will he? Obviously not. The press won't notice for a few years, the city council (and mayor) skates free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh please, two attorneys bringing lawsuits against VA/MD residents is going to clog up DC courts even further and will be ignored. DC has only two employees that boot cars so they won't be doing much more with their expanded authority. Just another example of DC making a law with zero enforcement mechanisms.

I cannot understand this. Why do they have so few people booting cars?

Ward 9 is a very powerful constituency.

[Anonymous]

A certain Range Rover on Conn Ave in Chevy Chase should be in their cross hairs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot understand this. Why do they have so few people booting cars?

Because suburban drivers are the mayor's donor base and DC drivers are her electoral base.

[Anonymous]

The one vehicle that had over $51k in tickets should have been a priority boot. Who is running these agencies.

The only persons who had to comply with paying tickets was really DC residents. If you don't pay, you can't renew your tags. I'm sure there are some folks out there who knows how to get around that, but it still applies.
Trayon White pointed out last year that most of the tickets are from out of state drives which adds insult to injury.

Furthermore, the points given to ones license is for getting camera tickets as well? If so, there's no outrage to this?

https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/25-161

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you thought crossing into Maryland and Virginia could get you out of paying those driving tickets you got in D.C., think again.

On Tuesday, the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education and Responsibility (STEER) Act went into effect in D.C. to combat dangerous drivers who don’t live in the District.

Under the new law, Attorney General for the District of Columbia Brian Schwalb will be able to sue drivers who haven’t paid tens of thousands of dollars in traffic fines — even if they don’t live in the District. Prior to this, Maryland and Virginia drivers could rack up tickets in D.C. and not be held accountable.

“The Attorney General is hiring two attorneys who are going to work full time on this, and they’re going to be taking people who have these huge sums, and they’re going to take them to court,” said D.C. Council member Charles Allen.

https://wtop.com/local/2024/10/steer-act-cracks-down-on-dangerous-driving-in-dc/

Great move. Hope they take away the cars of these repeat offenders.

How is that going to be enforced?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh please, two attorneys bringing lawsuits against VA/MD residents is going to clog up DC courts even further and will be ignored. DC has only two employees that boot cars so they won't be doing much more with their expanded authority. Just another example of DC making a law with zero enforcement mechanisms.

Currently, the department has seven two-person crews booting vehicles.

Cars are typically found by ticket writers who can run tags or by automated license plate readers that randomly spot a car on the street.

DPW has 46 employees assigned to towing and impounding vehicles.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dcs-daunting-task-to-boot-impound-cars-with-unpaid-tickets/3340555/

The big problem is DC can not go after cars parked on private property. So if you drive to work from Md or Va and park in a garage you are good to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh please, two attorneys bringing lawsuits against VA/MD residents is going to clog up DC courts even further and will be ignored. DC has only two employees that boot cars so they won't be doing much more with their expanded authority. Just another example of DC making a law with zero enforcement mechanisms.

Really? Seems really hard to believe as someone who works at Georgetown ...