District elected officials went rabid earlier this week when Rep. Darrell Issa, California Republican, indicated he would introduce legislation that would force the city to conduct more extensive background checks of political hires. They decried his planned action as congressional interference. But when Sen. James Webb, Virginia Democrat, sent Mayor Vincent C. Gray a letter complaining about arrests by police of his constituents, who it appears were violating a city law by driving vehicles with expired license plates, those same District officials snapped to attention.
Party affiliation has its privileges.
Gray subsequently persuaded the legislature to repeal the arrest law. Officials painted a portrait of overly aggressive police. That seemed more propaganda than reality, considering the full scope of the city’s problem with unregistered vehicles.
So far in 2011, the Department of Public Works has issued 47,294 tickets to cars parked on District streets that didn’t display current license tags. That was 1,869 more citations than issued for the same violation in 2010, according to DPW officials.
Those totals don’t include people living in the District who continue to drive cars with out-of state tags. By law they are required to register their vehicles within 30 days of establishing residence in the city. In 2011, DPW officials have issued 45,276 tickets to people violating the registered out-of-state automobile — ROSA — regulation. In 2010, there were 47,986 such tickets.
DPW parking personnel cannot issue tickets for moving violations or make arrests; only the Metropolitan Police Department has that authority. During 2010, MPD issued 2,747 tickets to drivers of cars without current license tags. While still significant, tickets issued in 2011 have decreased to 2,181.
MPD arrests were less than the tickets issued and rather small when weighed against the city’s huge unregistered vehicle problem. In 2010, for example, 2,163 people were arrested for driving with expired license tags; only 8 percent were actually locked up. In 2011, arrests have dropped to 1,334; 6 percent actually went to jail.
Still, the mayor and council have decided to discontinue arrests of scofflaws. Instead, they have increased fines and penalties. If past is prologue, that course of action won’t serve as effective deterrent or offer much relief.
The Department of Motor Vehicles has reported more than $356 million in outstanding parking fees and other fines, including those for unregistered cars. An amnesty program started in August 2011 has brought in only $1.9 million, according to DMV Director Lucinda Babers.
District residents are responsible for about 18 percent, or $64 million, of the unpaid total.
Maryland violators account for 40 percent of outstanding tickets fees; they owe the District more than $141 million. Virginians are responsible for 22 percent of the total; that’s about $77 million, according to DMV officials.
That $218 million owed the city by Maryland and Virginia drivers is enough to fund the local budget for the District’s Transportation Department, or the DMV or the Department of Human Services.
District elected officials may want to send a collection notice to Webb.
Jonetta Rose Barras’ column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
