DC Sues Out-of-State Drivers for $425K Fines

Washington, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has filed civil lawsuits against five drivers from Maryland and Virginia, alleging they collectively owe over $420,000 in unpaid traffic fines for repeated dangerous violations. The suits are enabled by the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Act, which took effect in October and allows D.C. to pursue legal action against non-resident offenders. Maryland driver Charles V. Sanders Jr. is accused of accruing 344 infractions, including 316 speeding violations and 61 instances of aggravated reckless driving, resulting in $187,200 owed. The four Virginia drivers each amassed hundreds of citations, with individual debts ranging from over $31,000 to $77,000. Schwalb stated the lawsuits aim to improve public safety and hold non-residents accountable for their conduct on D.C. roads. Similar lawsuits were previously filed against other Maryland drivers as part of ongoing enforcement efforts.