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District Gridlock Leads To Increase In Citations

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington officials are finding a way to make gridlocked traffic a money-maker.

The Washington Examiner reports that the district in the 2011 budget year issued more than 1,500 citations to drivers for "failure to clear an intersection". The Department of Motor Vehicles says that number topped the 1,080 gridlock tickets issued the year before. Over the last two years, tickets from gridlock have generated more than $263,000.

John Townsend of AAA Mid-Atlantic auto club says drivers shouldn't obstruct traffic at an intersection, but also says that's easy for drivers to get stuck and become an "innocent victim."

In the past, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier has supported the idea of adding cameras that would take pictures of offenders so tickets could be issued through the mail.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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