Outstanding D.C. tickets to be taken out of tax returns

A law, unknown by most, has given the District’s DMV the right to remove money from an individual’s tax return based on the traffic fines they owe. So far D.C. has withheld over $682,320 from taxpayer refunds and they expect to collect over $2 million from unpaid traffic violations. This law, passed by the D.C. Council and mayor last year, allows the DMV to ask the Office of Tax and Return to lower anyone’s refund based on the traffic fines they owe. Individuals whose traffic tickets have gone 3 months without being paid will notice a small decrease in their tax return. All other violators will receive a notice explaining the procedure, but they have the right to appeal the action to the DMV. D.C. drivers owe over $40.7 million dollars in traffic fines.