D.C. Attorney General sues Maryland driver over 344 unpaid traffic tickets worth $187,000
Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb just sued a Maryland man who owes Washington, D.C., $187,200 in unpaid traffic tickets.
Charles V. Sanders Jr. earned 344 violations in the federal district alone…in just over two years. He got 316 speeding tickets, including 61 for driving more than 30 miles per hour over the limit. That’s far enough over to land “aggravated reckless driving” on each one of those.
Sanders averaged nearly five speeding tickets per week during some stretches
Officials say the behavior created serious danger for other drivers.
Schwalb didn’t stop with Sanders, PoPville shared. He filed lawsuits against four Virginia drivers, who together owe over $237,000 for more than 800 violations.
Ayanna Khalya Wilson picked up 244 traffic tickets from 2019 to 2024. Most of them were for speeding, including 8 for driving 30-plus mph over the limit. She now owes $77,100.
Omar Rahmouni El Idrissi gathered 263 citations across four license plates. He got 246 speeding tickets, including several for driving 20-plus mph over the limit. His fines total $69,456.
Dejene A. Abebe collected 197 violations, 163 of them for speeding. His fines total $58,608.
Pedro James Baker completes the list with 159 traffic tickets. He got 30 speeding tickets, 20 for running red lights, and 15 for running stop signs. He also blocked bus zones and crosswalks. His balance stands at $31,316.
Altogether, these five drivers owe DC $425,000 in unpaid traffic tickets
Schwalb filed the lawsuits under the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Act. This law lets DC pursue monetary judgments against drivers who break its laws, even if they don’t live in the city.
“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,” Schwalb said. “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.”
