Fourteen chronic speeders from Maryland and Virginia just learned the hard way that D.C. is done playing nice with out-of-state drivers who dodge their tickets. According to the attorney general’s office, the District has pulled in $531,192 from those 14 motorists who repeatedly blew off D.C. traffic laws.
The money came through nine court judgments and five settlement agreements that together cover hundreds of unpaid citations. City officials say these cases are part of a broader crackdown on non-resident scofflaws using newly expanded enforcement tools.
As reported by WJLA, the nine judgments account for roughly $439,111, while the five settlements add about $92,081, for a combined total of $531,192. “No matter where you live, if you drive in DC, you must follow the law,” Attorney General Brian Schwalb said, according to that report.
How the STEER Act Lets D.C. Sue Out-of-State Drivers
The Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Act gives the Office of the Attorney General new civil authority to go after drivers with extreme levels of unpaid citations, even when they live outside the District. That means D.C. can ask a court to issue money judgments against repeat offenders who have long treated traffic cameras and tickets like a suggestion box.
In a press release describing earlier enforcement efforts, the office said it used the STEER Act last year to secure the first judgment under the law and has since continued filing lawsuits and hammering out settlements to force compliance with longstanding fines. Office of the Attorney General
Unpaid Tickets Have Ballooned Into a Billion-Dollar Problem
The aggressive posture is easier to understand once you look at the backlog. A The Washington Post analysis found more than 6.2 million unpaid traffic tickets owed to the District since 2000, adding up to nearly $1.3 billion in outstanding fines. A hefty share of that mountain of debt is tied to plates from Maryland and Virginia.
Traditional tools like booting and towing have limits, especially when many of the offending cars spend most of their time parked outside city limits. That reality has nudged D.C. toward using civil court judgments and targeted settlements as a way to turn years of ignored tickets into actual payments.
What the Judgments and Settlements Actually Do
Some of the settlements go beyond just writing a big check. They require drivers to pay agreed-on amounts, complete safe-driving courses, and pledge to obey District traffic laws going forward. The attorney general’s office also said it filed five new lawsuits this week seeking nearly $625,194 from Maryland drivers tied to almost 2,000 unpaid citations.
Those new cases and the fresh round of judgments mark a clear escalation from the earlier wave that local outlets spotlighted last year, when the office first sued three Maryland drivers under the STEER Act. WJLA
Legal Limits and Next Steps
Despite the tough talk, there are still hard limits on what D.C. can do. The STEER Act cases are civil, not criminal, and the District cannot directly suspend licenses issued by Maryland or Virginia. Booting and towing only work when a vehicle is actually in D.C., which is exactly why the attorney general’s office is leaning on court judgments, structured settlements, and other civil actions to squeeze payment and try to change driver behavior.
Local reporting and city data also show the District ramping up its tow-and-boot capacity and exploring reciprocity agreements with neighboring states so that civil judgments have more teeth on both sides of the border. Axios
For now, Schwalb’s message is straightforward: the city plans to keep using every civil tool available to rein in repeat reckless drivers. Motorists who treat D.C. streets like their personal racetrack should expect to see more lawsuits, more settlements, and far fewer free passes.
