On April 11, 2023, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Predominately black neighborhoods in D.C. bear the brunt of automated traffic enforcement, was cited by the Fines & Fees Justice Center:
Enforcement-heavy safety strategies, coupled with flat fine systems, also have a particularly devastating impact on lower-income and working-class communities, as well as communities of color. A 2018 DC Policy Center report stated that predominantly Black neighborhoods in the District bore the brunt of automated traffic enforcement. These are disproportionately residents living in Wards 7 and 8, where the median household income is less than $51,000 and $45,000 respectively, and where over 20% of the population lives below the poverty line. These are also our least invested-in Wards, with limited protected biking lanes, crosswalks, and designs that prioritize safety. Families living in these areas don’t have the option to simply pay off a citation without consequence. One $100 ticket could be the difference between having enough food for your family or not being able to feed your children.