WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Washington attorney has successfully overturned a $100 traffic ticket after a grueling three-year legal battle, exposing a technical flaw in D.C.’s speed camera system that could potentially trigger a massive class-action lawsuit.
The Grace Period Trap
The legal battle began when attorney Matt Ricciardi received a automated citation for driving 61 mph in a 50 mph zone—exactly 11 mph over the posted speed limit.
The District typically grants drivers a 10 mph grace range before traffic cameras trigger a ticket. Because Ricciardi was clocked at 11 mph over, the system automatically generated a fine.
The 1 MPH Margin of Error
Ricciardi, who possesses a background in computer programming, decided to audit the technical calibration of the city’s traffic cameras. His investigation revealed that the cameras operate with a 1 mph margin of error.
This means his documented speed of 11 mph over the limit could technically have been 10 mph over—a speed that falls squarely within the city’s legal grace range and should not have triggered a citation.
Court Rules Against The City
After his argument was initially rejected by the DMV, Ricciardi escalated the case through the judicial system. The D.C. Court of Appeals ultimately ruled in his favor, stating that the city could not definitively prove he was traveling 11 mph over the limit.
This ruling could have massive financial implications for the District:
- 1.9 Million Tickets: Approximately 11-to-15 mph over citations make up the majority of D.C.’s annual speed tickets.
- Tiered Fines Impact: Drivers hit with higher fines (e.g., 16 or 21 mph over) can now argue the margin of error should drop them into a lower, cheaper penalty tier.
Before Ricciardi’s landmark appeal, the systemic margin of error for D.C. speed cameras had never been successfully challenged in court. Legal experts suggest this opens the door for thousands of motorists to contest past and pending automated tickets.
