BRAZEN drivers will begin facing stricter penalties under a new law that aims to combat reckless driving by out-of-towners.
The Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Act went into effect on October 4 in Washington DC, and will seek to punish careless drivers from neighboring states.
Under the new legislation, which was unanimously passed in February, the attorney general of the Nation’s Capital has the authority to sue drivers who owe the city thousands in traffic fines.
If a traffic camera captures a vehicle registered in DC committing a violation, the driver must first pay the fine to renew their car’s registration in the city.
However, this rule did not affect out-of-state drivers as they would not have to renew their registration in the city.
However, the law will now apply to drivers from out of state, including those in neighboring Virginia and Maryland.
Before the legislation came into effect, drivers who racked up thousands in traffic fines could not be held accountable.
Under the STEER Act, a new point system will be enforced that could result in a driver’s vehicle being towed or booted.
“The Attorney General is hiring two attorneys who are going to work full time on this,” Council member Charles Allen told WTOP-FM.
“They’re going to be taking people who have these huge sums, and they’re going to take them to court.”
Drivers caught speeding will be punished under a new 10-point system.
- Speeding 11 to 15 mph over the limit will result in two points.
- Speeding 16 to 19 mph over the limit will result in three points.
- Speeding 20+ mph over the limit will result in five points.
- Tickets for reckless driving will result in five points.
- Tickets for aggravated reckless driving will result in 10 points.
If a driver accumulates 10 points in a six-month window, their car will become eligible for booting and towing.
“It’s dangerous. We have lost lives over this,” Allen told the outlet.
“In the District, we’re not just going to sit back anymore.”
Under the STEER Act, city officials will be allowed to install an intelligent speed assistance system in the vehicles of drivers convicted of reckless driving.
The new speed system will automatically limit the vehicle’s speed.
The speed system works similarly to an ignition interlock device, which is installed in vehicles owned by people convicted of driving under the influence.
In 2022, the District was owed $889,187 in unpaid parking tickets, according to records from Washington DC’s Department of Public Works, obtained by CBS affiliate WUSA.
Between October 2020 and March 2021, about 75% of unpaid photo tickets in Washington DC belonged to Maryland drivers, the outlet reported.
In 2022, plates from Maryland and Virginia were cited for a violation over 750,000 times, according to records obtained by Fox affiliate WTTG.
“It’s certainly tough to say, but when you look at the numbers and that some of these drivers, we’re not talking about folks who are distracted here and there, we’re talking about folks who are dangerous and shouldn’t be on the road,” DC resident Katherine Eyster told the outlet.
“And so, hopefully that makes a difference.”
“It’s important, I think, to send that strong signal that the Attorney General is going to be coming after you,” Allen added.
“That we are going to make sure we put teeth into that reckless driving and making sure we get those drivers, hold them accountable, and get them off our streets.”
STEER Act
The Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Act went into effect on October 4 in Washington DC.
The STEER Act:
- Under the new law, Washington DC’s attorney general will now wield power to sue out-of-town drivers with outstanding traffic fines.
- Before the STEER Act, drivers from outside Washington DC could rack up thousands in traffic fines and would not be held accountable.
- That rule did not apply to drivers whose cars are registered in DC.
- If a traffic camera captures a vehicle registered in DC committing a violation, the driver must first pay the fine to renew their car’s registration in the city.
STEER Act’s point system:
Drivers caught speeding will be punished under a new 10-point system:
- Speeding 11 to 15 mph over the limit will result in two points.
- Speeding 16 to 19 mph over the limit will result in three points.
- Speeding 20+ mph over the limit will result in five points.
- Tickets for reckless driving will result in five points.
- Tickets for aggravated reckless driving will result in 10 points.
If a driver accumulates 10 points in a six-month window, their car will become eligible for booting and towing.
Under the new law, city officials will be allowed to install an intelligent speed assistance system in the vehicles of drivers convicted of reckless driving.
The new speed system will automatically limit the vehicle’s speed.
The speed system works similarly to an ignition interlock device, which is installed in vehicles owned by people convicted of driving under the influence.
