Schedule of Fines Rulemaking Approval and Authority Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
July 8, 2026
Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
Enclosed for conside ration and approva l by the Council of the District of Columbia are the
“Schedule of Fines Rulema king Approval and Autho rity Emergency Declar ation Resolution of
2026” and the “Schedule of Fines Rulemaking A pproval and Authority Emergency Act of
2026.”The bill and c orresponding resolution will, on an eme rgency basis, approve ru les that
clarify the schedule of fines related to speeding.
Council action on an emergency basis is necessary to preserve public safety and welfare because
effective enforcement of the traffic laws creates safer roadways for all road users. Reductions in
speeding have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of death or serious injury in crashes,
and this rulemaking is necessary for effective continued enforcement.
I urge the Council to take prompt and favorable action on the enclosed legislation.
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A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
~~
Chairman Phil Mendelson
at the request of the Mayor
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to approve certain proposed
rules in accordance with section 105(a)(l) of the District of Columbia Traffic
Adjudication Act of 197 8 and to authorize the issuance of such rules on an emergency
basis.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the "Schedule of Fines Rulemaking Approval and Authority
Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026".
Sec. 2. (a) Rulemakings to amend the schedule of fines under section 105(a)(l) of the
District of Columbia Traffic Adjudication Act of 1978, effective September 12, 1978 (D.C. Law
2-104; D .C . Official Code§ 50-2301.05(a)(l)) ("Section 105(a)(l)"), require prior Council
approval, and the amendment of the schedule of fines pursuant to an emergency rulemaking is
currently restricted by Section 105(a)(l).
(b) The Director of the District Department of Transportation recently issued proposed
rules to amend the schedule of fines to clarify the intended speed at which each monetary penalty
for speeding applies.
( c) Immediate approval of these rules by the Council, and statutory authorization to issue
the rules on an emergency basis, is necessary to preserve public safety and welfare because
effective enforcement of traffic laws create safer roadways for all road users. Reductions in
speeding have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of death or serious injury in crashes, 34
and adoption of the rulemaking is necessary for effective continued enforcement. 35
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances 36
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the 37
Schedule of Fines Rulemaking Approval and Authority Emergency Act of 2026 be adopted after 38
a single reading. 39
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 40