D.C. Bill Would Allow Citizens to Give Their Neighbors Parking Tickets

Monica Sanchez | May 14, 2019
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A new bill if signed into law would allow certain residents in Washington, D.C., to give their neighbors tickets for parking violations.

The Vision Zero Omnibus Act authored by city council member Charles Allen of Ward 6 aims to improve road safety and includes provisions such as banning right turns on red, lowering residential speed limits to 20 miles per hour, fining contractors at least $10,000 per day for failing to restore crosswalks and bike lanes following completion of road work projects, and a pilot program that would authorize citizens to enforce parking laws in their neighborhoods.

According to the Washington Examiner, the program will be run by the District Department of Public Works which “will allow up to 10 trained residents per ward to be able to write up the parking infractions.”

“These individuals would file a violation by taking a picture of the vehicle, documenting the time and location, and submitting the information through an app,” writes the Examiner. “If the people in the program knowingly file a false violation, they will be given a civil fine of up to $100. One year after its creation, the Public Works Department will be required to file a report on the success or failure of the program, along with making any recommendations to improve it.”

The bill has 11 co-sponsors in addition to Ward.

Allen in a tweet announcing the legislation wrote, “I don’t care if you’re walking, biking, riding, or driving - you deserve to get from point A to point B safely.”

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