What the Washington, D.C. STEER Act means for fleets, drivers, and safety accountability.
Even when your drivers try their best to keep things safe, legal, and professional, they’re at the mercy of everyone else on the road.
A recent move by the Washington, D.C. Attorney General’s office shows why some people behind the wheel simply shouldn’t be there. If you manage a fleet, others’ reckless behavior directly threatens your team, business, and bottom line.
The District’s new enforcement policy under the STEER Act deserves a closer look. Not just for what it means in Washington, D.C., but for what it reveals about the level of danger that fleets face across the country.
Hundreds of violations, zero accountability — until now
The Washington, D.C. Attorney General’s Office filed lawsuits against five passenger car drivers who racked up more than 1,700 traffic violations between them. These weren’t minor fender benders or expired registrations. These were high-speed infractions, red-light runs, and serious stop-sign blow-throughs.
Here are a few examples from the lawsuits:
- One Maryland driver racked up 344 violations, including 316 speeding citations, 61 of which were more than 30 mph over the limit. That person owes $187,200 in unpaid fines.
- A Virginia driver with 263 violations, 246 for speeding, faces $69,456 in fines.
- Another driver owes $58,608 for 197 violations, primarily for reckless speeding.
For years, these individuals still shared the road with your fleet, drivers, and the public.
Enforcement with civil lawsuits
Civil suits can be brought under the STEER Act, a law that allows D.C. to hold out-of-state drivers accountable for local violations that would otherwise go unpaid and unpunished. While this may seem like a D.C.-only issue, it’s a warning for the entire industry. Regulators are fed up with repeat offenders slipping through the cracks. This is a push for accountability in traffic enforcement, and it’s likely just the beginning.
If your actions behind the wheel put people’s lives at risk, we will hold you accountable, no matter where you live.”
— D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, in an official statement.
What does all of this mean for fleets?
This is a wake-up call for dangerous drivers and the fleets forced to share the roads with them. If your vehicles and drivers are operating professionally, safely, and in compliance, but others aren’t, it creates two serious problems:
- Exposure: You face higher collision risk, more near-misses, and increased claims exposure thanks to unsafe third parties you can’t control.
- Accountability: Even when a collision isn’t your fault, proving that and defending it takes visibility. That means hard proof.
That’s where Motive’s AI Dashcams, AI Omnicams, and real-time tracking make the difference.
Visibility turns risk into accountability
Fleets equipped with Motive’s AI Dashcam and AI Omnicam don’t just record what happens. They see more, detect more, and capture the context that clears your name when you’re wrongly accused or involved in an incident caused by someone else.
A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study done in partnership with Motive showed that Motive alerts to unsafe driving 3-4x more successfully than other solutions. Thus, the odds are in your favor when capturing critical details, such as who was speeding, blew the light, or failed to yield.
- AI Omnicam gives you 360° visibility around the vehicle to capture what traditional dash cams miss.
- Dual-facing AI Dashcams detect unsafe behavior inside and outside the vehicle in real time.
- Motive’s automated coaching system flags events for drivers and managers, improving behavior before it becomes an issue.
- High-definition video footage helps defend your fleet from claims, providing clear evidence to dispute violations.
In a world where civil lawsuits are now being used as an enforcement tool, fleets can’t afford to be blind to what’s happening on the road.
When roads get riskier, your safety record needs evidence
This new legal approach to traffic safety reminds us it’s not just about avoiding citations. It’s about building a defense before you need one. When unsafe drivers are held accountable, professional fleets have to be equally prepared to defend their safety record, protect their drivers, and show insurers, regulators, and courts exactly what happened. That’s the kind of defense only full visibility can provide.
Motive is your defense, your partner, and your edge
In a world where every mile can become a liability, Motive helps fleets turn risk into protection and insight into action.
With Motive, you’re building a system that protects your drivers, validates your decisions, and documents the facts. From AI dash cams and AI Omnicams to real-time coaching and fleet-wide diagnostics, Motive gives you the tools you need to see farther, act faster, and stay in control.
Request a demo and see how Motive helps fleets like yours stay ready, compliant, and ahead.
