Marylanders are often regarded as some of the worst drivers in the nation, and a string of lawsuits by the District of Columbia’s Office of the Attorney General is not helping our case.

Five Maryland drivers owe the district more than $625,000, collectively, for unpaid traffic citations. Most of the 1,966 violations are for excessive speeding. Many of the Maryland drivers also had Virginia license plates despite not living in the state.

For decades, Marylanders chose to register their cars in Virginia because the state allows drivers to pay an uninsured motorist fee instead of buying auto insurance. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles doesn’t require in-state residency to register. The state rolled out the fee in 2024.

Under the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education and Responsibility Act, the attorney general’s office can hold nonresident drivers accountable for D.C. traffic laws. The law took effect in October 2024, and the office has filed 29 lawsuits and won 10 judgments since then, according to the news release.

Michael William Hall Jr., who resides in Prince George’s County, got 826 speeding tickets between 2021 and 2025, with 87 constituting aggravated reckless driving. The fines ranged from $100 to $500 each, before the addition of penalties for failing to pay previous tickets and repeat violations. The traffic violations span across 15 Maryland license plates, five Virginia license plates and one D.C. license plate. Hall owes $284,550 to the district.

The other Maryland residents in the lawsuit owe significantly less than Hall. The office is suing Wayne Proctor, who lives in Charles County, for $155,220. He has 530 traffic citations from between 2020 and 2025 across two Maryland license plates and three Virginia plates. Most of the citations are for speeding, running red lights and running stop signs.

Anne Arundel County resident Tameisha Monai Williams owes the district $122,610 for 324 traffic citations across six Maryland license plates and two Virginia plates. Andrew Jerry Kirkland and Dabreon Shavone Bryan from Prince George’s County each owe more than $30,000 in fines.

The office also settled with two drivers who committed to pay thousands of dollars in fines and taking a safe driving course.

Since the first day of the current legislative session in Annapolis, Maryland, there’s been silence when the senator for District 24’s name is called.

According to committee attendance, votes and quorum reports reviewed by the News4 I-Team, Joanne C. Benson has missed every day of this session in Annapolis. Some constituents and fellow politicians have expressed concern over her failure to report to the legislature, and are concerned about their representation. 

One of the delegates in her district, Democrat Tiffany Alston, is among them.

“People want to make sure that she is taking the time she needs to take care of herself,” Alston said. “But people are concerned about what that means for them, their pocketbook issues.”

Alston is one of two people running to replace Benson in the state Senate, after Benson did not refile for office.

“I have asked the senator to consider submitting her resignation earlier than she may be prepared to do, but I also recognize and I am very respectful of the fact that that is a personal decision that only she can make,” Alston said. “I think it is something that she has to decide, because I would not want to see other people try and take the voice of District 24 away from us.”

For 35 years, Benson has represented the district that includes Fairmount Heights, Glenarden, Seat Pleasant, and Landover. She did so first as a state delegate, then as a senator.

Now 85 years old, Benson told News4 it’s been challenging these last few months.

She lost two of her sisters last fall within weeks of each other. Then she had her own health challenges, including a surgery that she said requires extended recovery time.

Asked by phone whether she believes she will make it to Annapolis before the end of the legislative session on April 13, she said, “Yes, I am. As a matter of fact, I was supposed to go this week.”

Benson said she has no immediate plans to step down.

But if she does, she said, it will be well after the General Assembly’s 90 day session ends, and after June’s primary election — telling the I-Team she’s considering resigning in July.

Benson said she is waiting, in part, because she’s concerned that the Democratic central committee will appoint one of the current candidates to temporarily fill her seat — perhaps giving whoever they select the advantage of incumbency in the election.

“I don’t want it to be perceived that I, as the senator, I’m showing favoritism for one senator, for one candidate over the other,” Benson said.

Asked whether she planned to endorse one of the two candidates running, she said, “Not at this point.”

If Benson steps down from her office, Alston says she would definitely submit her name to the central committee.

“If she steps down, the way our process works is the central committee would appoint, and I would definitely submit my name,” Alston said. “But that’s a decision she has to make based on what she thinks is best for — really it should be what’s best for our constituents.”

The other candidate running to replace Benson is Kevin Ford. He declined an on camera interview, but released a statement to News4 addressing Benson’s absence:

“Senator Joanne Benson has dedicated decades of service to Prince George’s County and District 24 and she deserves our respect and gratitude for that service,” the statement reads in part. “I know she has been navigating several personal challenges and my thoughts remain with her and her family.”

In her absence, Benson has not able to vote on major legislation impacting her district, including its funding. News4 asked her if Alston’s concerns for voters was valid.

“Well, first of all, my track record speaks for itself,” Benson said. “There’s no earthly way that I would be allowed to stay in Prince George’s County representing these dear folks for 35 years if I wasn’t doing what I’m supposed to do.”

With one month left in the General Assembly session, Benson said she wants to get to Annapolis by next week.

Asked what should happen when something like the situation with Benson occurs, the Senate president’s office did not reply to requests for comment.