DC Takes Action Against Scofflaws: Vehicle Towing Initiative Launched
DEBARYLIFE – The amount of money owing by drivers who have received fines for speeding, running red lights, and other violations captured by D.C.’s numerous traffic cameras has garnered a lot of attention in recent years. And in the past month, D.C. has begun to pursue some of those drivers covertly.
In an experimental initiative, the D.C. Department of Public Works, which is also in charge of impounding and towing, has the city using license plate readers to search Ward 1 streets for “scofflaw” cars, or vehicles that have accrued at least $3,000 in unpaid fines.
The amount of money owing by drivers who have received fines for speeding, running red lights, and other violations captured by D.C.’s numerous traffic cameras has garnered a lot of attention in recent years. And in the past month, D.C. has begun to pursue some of those drivers covertly.
In an experimental initiative, the D.C. Department of Public Works, which is also in charge of impounding and towing, has the city using license plate readers to search Ward 1 streets for “scofflaw” cars, or vehicles that have accrued at least $3,000 in unpaid fines.
“Our objective is to remove the high-risk drivers from the road,” stated Willson.
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Currently, only Ward 1 is included in the pilot program. This was done possibly more because Ward 1 may have more “scofflaw” cars parked on the street rather than in garages or private driveways than in any other area in the city. However, the trial initiative will probably spread to other areas of the city if it is effective.
The city does not always receive the money it is owed, even after towing an automobile. City officials have admitted that there are instances when a motorist won’t claim an impounded vehicle because there are more fines on it than it is worth.
The city has established a second impound lot in recent years, and plans are underway to create a third. A car must be held by the city for 28 days according to law before it may be dismantled and sold.
In addition, the District has increased the number of teams that can boot a car from two to ten, strengthening other efforts to collect overdue fines. In the Georgetown region, over 36 cars that owed a total of almost $92,000 in fines were recently seized.