District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced that the District has won judgments in nine lawsuits that will cost 14 drivers from Maryland and Virginia a total of $531,192 in unpaid fines, penalties and fees for traffic citations.
In addition, Schwalb said his office (OAG) has also filed five other lawsuits against out-of-state drivers who have amassed a combined total of 1,966 driving infractions on D.C. roads and who collectively owe the District nearly $625,194. OAG maintains that a few drivers owe D.C. more than $100,000 each.
The judgments and lawsuits are authorized under the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Act, which enables the attorney general to hold drivers who flout D.C.’s traffic laws accountable even if they do not live in D.C.
Since the STEER Act took effect in October 2024, OAG says it has filed a total of 29 lawsuits against dangerous drivers, won 10 judgments, and resolved two lawsuits and three pre-suit matters through settlements.
“No matter where you live or where your car is registered, if you drive on D.C. streets you must obey D.C. traffic laws,” said Schwalb.
OAG has filed the following lawsuits:
OAG filed suit against a Maryland resident who owes $284,550 to the District for 910 traffic citations – including 826 speeding tickets – across 15 Maryland license plates, five Virginia license plates, and one DC license plate. Eighty-seven of the speeding tickets were for driving at speeds that would constitute reckless driving, or driving 20 miles per hour or more over the speed limit, and 13 of the 87 would constitute aggravated reckless driving, or driving 30 miles per hour or more over the speed limit. This driver accumulated 84% of the 910 citations from 2021 through 2025, averaging approximately 153 tickets per year during this period. The complaint is available here.
OAG filed suit against a Maryland resident who owes $155,220 to the District for 530 traffic citations – including 444 speeding tickets – across a Maryland driver’s license, two Maryland license plates and three Virginia license plates. This driver amassed all 530 citations from October 2020 through August 2025, and 95% of those were for dangerous and unsafe driving, including speeding, running red lights, and running stop signs. The complaint is available here.
OAG filed suit against a Maryland resident who owes $122,610 to the District for 324 traffic citations – including 301 speeding tickets – across six Maryland license plates and two Virginia license plates. Fifty-two of the tickets are for driving speeds that would constitute reckless driving, or driving 20 miles per hour or more over the speed limit, and seven of the 52 tickets would constitute aggravated reckless driving, or driving 30 miles per hour or more over the speed limit. Seven tickets are for running red lights. The complaint is available here.
OAG filed suit against a Maryland resident who owes $30,000 to the District for 98 traffic citations – including 90 speeding tickets – across his Florida driver’s license and five Maryland license plates. The complaint is available here.
OAG filed suit against a Maryland resident who owes $32,814 to the District for 104 traffic citations – including 79 speeding tickets—across a Virginia driver’s license, six Virginia license plates, and two Maryland license plates. The complaint is available here.
Source: District of Columbia Attorney General
Topics
Personal Auto
Virginia
Maryland
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