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posted by Fnord666 on Thursday February 20 2020, @09:34PM   Printer-friendly
from the gotta-fine-them-all dept.

WJLA reports: Washington D.C. issued a record $1 billion in traffic and parking tickets in three years

D.C. has long been considered one of the most onerous places in the country for traffic fines, seeing a steady climb year to year in tickets issued and revenue generated. But recently the District broke into stunning new territory, issuing more than $1 billion in tickets in just three years. [...] We asked the District to show us its evidence that D.C.'s cameras, and the high fines, translate to fewer accidents, fewer injuries and fewer deaths. The District told us it hasn't done any studies.
Yet the fines keep increasing, generating more money than alcohol, cigarette, motor vehicle, fuel and estate taxes and all revenue from licenses and permits, and personal property taxes combined.

I don't know another local jurisdiction in the entire nation that has generated as much money from traffic tickets, parking tickets and moving violations," said John Townsend, Public Relations Manager of AAA Mid-Atlantic. "That tells us that things are out of control and out of hand in the District of Columbia."
"No one really believes this is about traffic safety any longer," said Townsend, "which is the reason we're withdrawing support for the automated enforcement program in the District."

That means AAA is likely to declare Washington, D.C. a "traffic trap" (or speed trap as it is commonly referred to) to its 60 million members. In 2005 AAA declared D.C. a "strict enforcement zone," one step below the "traffic trap" designation.

The AAA is the American Automobile Association, also frequently called "Triple A," known for its roadside assistance and other motorist related programs.


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  • (Score: 4, Informative) by JoeMerchant on Friday February 21 2020, @02:06AM (3 children)

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Friday February 21 2020, @02:06AM (#960555)

    I've been to DC a half dozen times, three times as a tourist in the general Smithsonian area - twice for almost a week. I always use public transit - even when we drove there we parked out in a suburban commuter lot and rode the subway in. Once, on approach for landing I saw some horrible traffic snafu and strategically took the subway out of the city in the direction of Rockville, getting my taxi at the station out there instead of Reagan airport - probably saved me 2 hours of sitting in a cab.

    I drive almost everywhere, hell I even drove the three weeks I stayed in central Manhattan, but for D.C. - it's got a good, almost great, subway system - to not use it is just to hurt yourself needlessly.

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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by c0lo on Friday February 21 2020, @02:20AM (2 children)

    by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 21 2020, @02:20AM (#960562) Journal

    it's got a good, almost great, subway system - to not use it is just to hurt yourself needlessly.

    Oh gosh, where would the things be going if many will start using public transport as you suggest?
    Do you want them to start issuing parking tickets to buses ans speeding fees to subways to cover the gap?

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    • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 21 2020, @02:58AM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 21 2020, @02:58AM (#960567)

      The subway has fallen on hard times as a result of many years of deferred maintenance. Breakdowns and worse.
      Plus the local Democrat controlled govts think we should go soft on crime because black people commit crime. Thus, turnstyle jumping and knifings are on the rise whereas they used to be unheard of. Ticket prices are way up and now they charge quite a bit to park at the station. The value is just not there. Plus there is no terminal close to my house at all and it doesn't go to my job either. For tourists, the subway is great!

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 21 2020, @06:34PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 21 2020, @06:34PM (#960767)

        Unfortunately I do not believe any of this money goes to WMATA for the subway and buses.

        Thus, turnstyle jumping and knifings are on the rise whereas they used to be unheard of.

        Yeah, well, no. I'm not sure where you scared up that scare piece.