Beware D.C. drivers! D.C. street sweepers now have cameras to catch people who fail to move their cars in time for the sweepers to do their jobs.
Street sweeper cameras were snapping away Monday sending warning tickets to vehicle owners who were parked illegally. In the next 45 days, the real tickets will begin. D.C. Public Works says right now, it doesn't have enough ticket writers to get all the scofflaws.
"The way it stand right now you've got actually about one in five change of getting a ticket. With the sweeper cam you'll a have hundred percent chance that you will get a ticket," said William Howland with the Department of Public Works.
There are many signs lined up along curbs in the city that showcases the parking ban for two hours while the sweepers pass. The city estimates for every two mile route the sweepers work, 90 people fail to move their cars.
The street sweeper operators complain they cannot do an adequate job, so many drivers ignore the law and move their cars during designated sweeping times or more likely just forget.
"It's fair. I forgot this morning to do it, so you know, that's my mistake," said Irene Lin.
As motorists learned of the new technology, there were few who gave it a warm embrace.
"At 9:30 they come and they're very efficient at ticketing anyone who I don't know what the need of the camera would be," said Buddy Metzer.
One D.C. resident who denounced the cameras, looked at her dirty street and changed her mind. "Like how many years has it been going on? The signs say not on this side, on this side, come on, yeah it's a good idea."
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