Washington, D.C
DC woman relieved of thousands in speed camera tickets after DMV mix-up
DC DMV dismisses dozens of wrongly issued tickets
A woman who had been hit with thousands of dollars in speed camera tickets from the D.C. DMV won’t have to pay a dime. FOX 5’s Homa Bash has the story.
WASHINGTON – Good news — a woman who had been hit with thousands of dollars in speed camera tickets from the D.C. DMV won’t have to pay a dime.
FOX 5 initially reported on Nov. 1, after Angela DeVore reached out and said she was frustrated with the lack of help she was receiving from District officials.
Following that initial story, Fox 5’s Homa Bash checked in with the DMV constantly, and on Monday – nearly three weeks later – DeVore received an email that all of those traffic tickets have been dismissed, and her case has been closed.
She said it’s a huge relief, and she’s grateful she reached out to FOX 5 when she did.
“I want to thank God that it’s done, it’s over with, I don’t have to deal with it anymore. I want to thank you and the FOX 5 family for being there and getting my story out there, and I also want to thank the DMV,” DeVore said.
DeVore’s predicament began back in June, when she started receiving automatic speed camera tickets nearly every week – more than two dozen from D.C., Maryland and Virginia – totaling thousands of dollars.
Here’s the problem: the photos captured by the speed enforcement cameras show a two-door BMW convertible – but DeVore owns a four-door Volkswagen Jetta.
The license plates are almost the same – except the one getting tickets has a dash in zero, which is why it seems the system was glitching and sending citations to DeVore instead.
When she told DMVs in Maryland and Virginia about the mixup, they dismissed the tickets immediately.
The D.C. DMV, however, said she had to keep continually contesting them, and for months, told her they were still investigating.
“It was frustrating, it was draining. I felt like I was being targeted,” DeVore said.
“I want to jump for joy but I don’t want to hurt myself,” she added, laughing with relief.
The DMV did not clarify to DeVore exactly why the case was closed – for example, if the other plates were fake or cloned, or who will be responsible for payment now.
But she wants to encourage people facing the same issue to speak up, and stay persistent.
License plate glitch leaves DC resident with thousands in traffic fines
A D.C. woman has accumulated thousands of dollars in speeding tickets – and she has no plans to pay them. FOX 5’s Homa Bash has the story.
Below is the statement sent to Fox 5 from a DMV spokesperson:
“A Hearing Examiner has dismissed the tickets in question. A hearing record will be mailed to Ms. DeVore’s address on file. DC DMV encourages residents with questions or concerns about tickets to reach out for assistance.”
“For customers who may encounter this rare circumstance, we recommend the following:
Immediately file a Police Report with MPD: https://mpdc.dc.gov/service/file-police-report
Contest the ticket(s) to be dismissed: Contest Parking and Photo Enforcement Tickets | dmv
Prior to contesting the ticket, customers are welcome to reach out to our DMV Ticket Adjudication Ombudsman for advisement: Ticket Adjudication Ombudsman | dmv
For all customer matters the DMV can be reached online: Contact Us | dmv
Please consider registering for DMV’s Ticket Alert Service (Registration for Ticket Alert Service (TAS) | dmv) to ensure that you have an extra layer of notification for tickets issued to your vehicle.”
Washington, D.C
DC leaders considering transit options for new RFK Stadium
The Commanders are set to build a new stadium in D.C., and the debate over how fans will get to and from games is happening right now. On Wednesday, city leaders will join Metro and the Washington Commanders to talk stadium transit.
Washington, D.C
D.C. Police Chief manipulated crime data; new House Oversight report
TNND — A new report from the House Oversight Committee alleges former D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to manipulate crime data. The committee released the report on Sunday, less than a week after Smith announced she was stepping down.
You’re lulling people into this false sense of security. They might go places they wouldn’t ordinarily go. They might do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do,” said Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association.
Included in the report were transcribed interviews with the commanders of all seven D.C. patrol districts and the former commander currently on suspended leave. One was asked, “Over the last few years, has there been any internal pressure to simply bring down crime statistics?” Their response, “Yes, I mean extremethere’s always been pressure to keep crime down, but the focus on statistics… has come in with this current administration.”
Every single person who lives, works, or visits the District of Columbia deserves a safe city, yet it’s now clear the American people were deliberately kept in the dark about the true crime rates in our nation’s capital,” House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said in a statement.
“They are going to have to regain the public trust. Again, this is a huge integrity issue,” Brantner Smith said.
Among the reports findings, Smith’s alleged pressured campaign against staff led to inaccurate crime data. Smith punished or removed officers for reporting accurate crime numbers. Smith fostered a toxic culture and President Trump’s federal law enforcement surge in D.C. is working.
While Smith has not yet publicly responded to the report, she’s previously denied allegations of manipulating crime data, saying the investigation did not play a factor into her decision to step down at the end of the year.
My decision was not factored into anything with respect to, other than the fact that it’s time. I’ve had 28 years in law enforcement. I’ve had some time to think with my family,” Smith said earlier this month.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also released a statement Monday, writing in part that “the interim report betrays its bias from the outset, admitting that it was rushed to release.”
According to crime stats from the Metropolitan Police Department, since the federal law enforcement surge started in August, total violent crime is down 26%. Homicides are down 12% and carjackings 37%.
Washington, D.C
National Menorah Lighting in DC dedicated to Bondi Beach victims
The first candle lit on the National Menorah near the White House in Washington, D.C., marked the first night of Hanukkah — and solemnly honored victims of the Bondi Beach shooting.
The National Menorah Lighting was held Sunday night, hours after gunmen opened fire on a crowd celebrating the beginning of Hanukkah at Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl, a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor, and over three dozen others were being treated at hospitals.
Authorities in Australia said it was a terrorist attack targeting Jewish people.
Organizers behind the National Menorah Lighting said the news from Australia, along with the bitter cold, forced them to consider whether or not to hold the annual event.
After consulting with local law enforcement, National Menorah Lighting organizers decided to hold the event and honor the victims.
Several D.C.-area police departments issued statements confirming there are no known threats to local communities, but are monitoring just in case.
Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich condemned the attack and said community safety is a priority.
“Acts of antisemitism, especially those meant to intimidate families and communities during moments of gathering and celebration, must be called out clearly and condemned without hesitation,” Elrich said. “I have heard directly from members of Montgomery County’s Jewish community who are shaken and concerned, and I want them to know that their safety is a priority.”
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