It’s a mystery why it’s so easy to beat traffic tickets in the District, but internal documents suggest that part of the problem is the staff is overwhelmed. In its “FY10 Performance Plan,” the District’s Department of Motor Vehicles says in a footnote that the agency scrambled to hire contractors to help judge challenges. The report says there was “increased ticket issuance” by city officials “without increase in adjudication staff.” The performance plan also suggests that city officials were tardy getting information to ticket judges. The city met deadlines for “service requests” by adjudicators only 30 percent of the time, the report shows. The law usually requires the city to prove their case that a driver was out of line and sets strict deadlines for doing so. An overworked staff is a boon to drivers, said Peter Tenereillo, an executive with San Diego based-Trapster.com. Tenereillo runs a mobile phone application company that warns motorists about red light cameras and helps police departments monitor dangerous intersections. He recalled a conversation with a lawyer who said blown deadlines and missed court hearings are the wayward driver’s best friend. “He said that judges don’t look at merit,” Tenereillo said. “He just keeps going to the courtroom until the cop doesn’t show up.” Even if D.C. motorists are able to walk away from tens of thousands of tickets, there are plenty to take their place: In fiscal 2009, the city raked in more than $117 million in tickets, finance office spokesman David Umansky said in an e-mail.
