D.C. issues record $1 billion in traffic and parking tickets, AAA calls it 'predatory'

WASHINGTON (WJLA/ABC7) – 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.

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.

Townsend closely monitors the District's ticketing behavior. He says this is a money-making operation that can't prove these high fines have made anyone safer.

In fact, he says they haven't found any evidence that shows the amount of the fine modifies a motorist’s behavior.

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