D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is suing four Virginia drivers and a Maryland motorist over hundreds of traffic violations and unpaid tickets worth more than $420,000.
Mr. Schwalb previously filed suit against three Maryland drivers in February on similar grounds. The suits are enabled by the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education and Responsibility (STEER) Act that lets the District sue out-of-city drivers. The law went into effect in October.
Charles Sanders Jr. of Brandywine, Maryland, amassed 344 tickets from May 2020 through July 2022, for which he owes $187,200. Of these, 339 occurred from March 2021 to July 2022, when he was getting nearly five traffic tickets each week, Mr. Schwalb’s office said in a release Tuesday.
The majority of his offenses were for speeding. Unlike the other drivers being sued, all of his offenses were racked up using one car with one license plate.
Ayanna Khalya Wilson of Cullen, Virginia, got 244 tickets across three license plates from August 2019 to last August, most of which were for speeding. She owes $77,100 on those tickets.
Omar Rahmouni El Idrissi of Lorton, Virginia, racked up 263 tickets on four license plates from October 2015 to last September, most for speeding. He owes D.C. $69,456.
Dejene Abebe of Herndon, Virginia, amassed 197 tickets on three license plates from June 2017 through last June, most for speeding. She owes the city $58,608.
From June 2010 through last September, Pedro James Baker of Alexandria, Virginia, was assessed 159 tickets on 14 different license plates. His offenses included speeding, running stop signs, running red lights, parking in bus zones, impeding the operation of D.C. buses and blocking crosswalks. He owes $31,316.
“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. 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,” Mr. Schwalb said.
