Of the $245.7 million owed to Washington, DC, in the form of overdue traffic tickets, Maryland drivers owe 37.6 percent, according to Lucinda Babers, director of the District's Department of Motor Vehicles.

The overdue tickets include parking tickets, citations for moving violations and photo-enforcement tickets issued before January 1, 2010.

But Marylanders will soon have a chance to pay off their tickets—which collectively total over $92 million—without paying any penalties.

Yesterday, Mayor Vincent Gray announced a ticket amnesty program starting Aug. 1 that will allow delinquent ticket holders to pay up, fine-free. The amnesty will last through Jan. 27, 2012.

It's the first ticket amnesty program offered by the District in 10 years.

“This program is an incentive for customers to pay off their old tickets,” Gray said.

“In the current economic environment, we expect that many customers will take advantage of this opportunity to clear their debts to DMV at a lower cost—producing revenue results for the District."

Of the $245.7 million owed, the DMV expects to collect approximately $6.3 million during the amnesty, according to a press release.

Virginia drivers account for 22.7 percent of the tickets, District drivers for 17.4 percent and the remaining 22.3 percent are owed by drivers from other jurisdictions outside of Maryland, Virginia and the District.

Under the amnesty program:

• Hearings cannot be requested on amnesty tickets.
• Amnesty tickets are eligible for a ticket-payment plan.
• Payments on tickets made prior to Aug. 1, 2011, are not eligible for a refund.
• No points will be assessed on moving-violation tickets paid.

Drivers can pay their amnesty tickets online at dmv.dc.gov, over the phone (at 866-893-5023) or in person at DMV Adjudication Services (301 C St. NW, Washington, DC, Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

For more information about the program, visit dmv.dc.gov or send an email to DMVTicketAmnesty@dc.gov.