BRAZEN drivers will begin facing stricter penalties under a new law that aims to combat reckless driving by out-of-towners.

The Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Act went into effect on October 4 in Washington DC, and will seek to punish careless drivers from neighboring states.

Getty Images - Getty

Getty Images - Getty

Under the new legislation, which was unanimously passed in February, the attorney general of the Nation’s Capital has the authority to sue drivers who owe the city thousands in traffic fines.

If a traffic camera captures a vehicle registered in DC committing a violation, the driver must first pay the fine to renew their car’s registration in the city.

However, this rule did not affect out-of-state drivers as they would not have to renew their registration in the city.

However, the law will now apply to drivers from out of state, including those in neighboring Virginia and Maryland.

Before the legislation came into effect, drivers who racked up thousands in traffic fines could not be held accountable.

Under the STEER Act, a new point system will be enforced that could result in a driver’s vehicle being towed or booted.

“The Attorney General is hiring two attorneys who are going to work full time on this,” Council member Charles Allen told WTOP-FM.

“They’re going to be taking people who have these huge sums, and they’re going to take them to court.”

Drivers caught speeding will be punished under a new 10-point system.

• Speeding 11 to 15 mph over the limit will result in two points.
• Speeding 16 to 19 mph over the limit will result in three points.
• Speeding 20+ mph over the limit will result in five points.
• Tickets for reckless driving will result in five points.
• Tickets for aggravated reckless driving will result in 10 points.

If a driver accumulates 10 points in a six-month window, their car will become eligible for booting and towing.

“It’s dangerous. We have lost lives over this,” Allen told the outlet.

“In the District, we’re not just going to sit back anymore.”

Under the STEER Act, city officials will be allowed to install an intelligent speed assistance system in the vehicles of drivers convicted of reckless driving.

The new speed system will automatically limit the vehicle’s speed.

The speed system works similarly to an ignition interlock device, which is installed in vehicles owned by people convicted of driving under the influence.

In 2022, the District was owed $889,187 in unpaid parking tickets, according to records from Washington DC’s Department of Public Works, obtained by CBS affiliate WUSA.

Between October 2020 and March 2021, about 75% of unpaid photo tickets in Washington DC belonged to Maryland drivers, the outlet reported.

In 2022, plates from Maryland and Virginia were cited for a violation over 750,000 times, according to records obtained by Fox affiliate WTTG.

“It’s certainly tough to say, but when you look at the numbers and that some of these drivers, we’re not talking about folks who are distracted here and there, we’re talking about folks who are dangerous and shouldn’t be on the road,” DC resident Katherine Eyster told the outlet.

“And so, hopefully that makes a difference.”

“It’s important, I think, to send that strong signal that the Attorney General is going to be coming after you,” Allen added.

“That we are going to make sure we put teeth into that reckless driving and making sure we get those drivers, hold them accountable, and get them off our streets.”

THE NINTENDO Switch isn’t always seen as one of the best consoles for online multiplayer games, due in part to its portability and reliance on wi-fi over a wired connection. 

That said, for multiplayer experiences as a whole, the Switch is absolutely packed with both couch co-op games and online multiplayer games that are surprisingly solid. 

Capcom

Monster Hunter Rise lets you take down huge monsters with friends.[/caption]

One such online multiplayer game on the Switch is Monster Hunter Rise, the most recent game in the Monster Hunter series that spent a couple of years as a Switch exclusive before being ported to PC, PS5, and Xbox. 

It’s a co-operative monster-hunting action RPG where you and up to three friends can head into the field to take down giant monsters, and it’s a fantastic game. 

Critics praised it for its fast-paced combat, which was said to be much better than prior games in the series, and its huge amount of content, with over 300 hours of content for a completionist. 

While the game usually retails for £34.99, Nintendo Switch owners can now pick it up on the Nintendo eShop for just £8.74, a massive saving of 75%. 

Those who want the massive Sunbreak expansion as well can pick up the game and Sunbreak in a single package for just £16.49, down from the usual £49.99. 

Buying the Sunbreak expansion separately costs £14.39 currently, or £35.99 normally, so interested players should pick up the bundle that includes the game and the expansion in one cheap purchase. 

Monster Hunter Rise will be on sale on Switch until October 22, 2024, so players have two weeks to pick it up before it goes back to its regular price. 

The sale comes after the announcement of the next game in the series, Monster Hunter Wilds, which is set to be released on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 28, 2024. 

The new game is set to be fully open world, rather than having separate open areas like Rise, and lets players switch between two different weapons in the field for the first time. 

It also comes as Nintendo fans wait for news on the Switch 2, which is set to be announced at some point in the next five months, and has had a number of apparent leaked images surface in recent weeks. 

If you want to read more about Nintendo, check out why Nintendo and Pokémon are suing Palworld.

BUTTERBALL was a hilarious labrador that stole the internet’s heart after going viral on TikTok in 2023.

Sadly, the beloved TikTok pooch passed away at the age of 14 leading many fans to pay tribute to the dog that brought them so much joy.

Here’s everything you need to know about Butterball.

Instagram/butterballthatsme

Dog days

Butterball was a labrador retriever who became a TikTok sensation when she was 13-years-old.

A video was posted to the social media platform of her leaping onto her owner’s Gator utility vehicle when she was too tired to walk.

TikTokers fell in love with her ability to quietly sit and observe at one moment, but then lovingly bound over to her owner in the next.

Instagram/butterballthatsme

Butterball’s TikTok superstardom

That video of Butterball propelled her to TikTok super-fame, with videos about the pooch getting a total of 252million likes.

Her TikTok account had over 600,000 followers and her Instagram account had 300,000 followers.

Butterball’s fame continued to grow as her owner posted videos of the dog playing in mud and often had hilarious captions such as “Butterball is thinking of running for governor at this point”.

Instagram/butterballthatsme

Butterball passing away

Sadly Butterball passed away on October 6, 2024.

Her owner posted a picture of the TikTok star with a caption reading: “She lived a good life and died in my lap while she was getting endless pets from everyone. See you again Butterball put in a good word when you’re up there”.

Her owner had posted a video of the labrador just a week before, where she excitedly ran up to her owner.

Fans have been posting tributes to the beloved dog and commenting on videos of her, saying “rest in peace, angel” and “RIP bud”.

DESHAUN Watson was caught in a moment of chaos that saw him walk off the field in the middle of the Cleveland Browns’ defeat to the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

Watson found himself having to leave the huddle and head to the sidelines in the third quarter, causing confusion in the stands.

AP

Deshaun Watson and Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski have cleared up the confusion from their blunder during defeat to the Washington Commanders[/caption]

Trailing by 21 points in the third quarter, the Browns offense stayed on the field at fourth-and-goal to try and start a miracle comeback.

But before they could even get a snap away, Watson was trudging off the field and the Browns opted to kick a field goal – leaving fans concerned that he Watson given up on the team.

However, head coach Kevin Stefanski has now revealed that wasn’t the case at all, and instead Watson was trying to save his side from a penalty.

Speaking after the 34-13 thrashing, Stefanski explained that his side had 12 men in the huddle and as the play clock ticked down they were putting themselves at risk of punishment.

He said: “We had the wrong amount of people in the huddle, and then at that point, we were just going to kick the field goal.

“Obviously we had penalties and some miscommunications which are completely on me.

“I’ll take responsibility for all of that. That looks like losing football to me, I’ll get it fixed.”

It wasn’t the only time that the Browns were caught with 12 players on the field either, and Stefanski vented his frustrations at the errors.

Getty

Stefanski explained what led to the moment of madness[/caption]

He added: “It is really frustrating, we will get that fixed. Before we beat anybody, you have to stop beating yourself.

“We need to play better as an offense, we need to coach better as an offense.”

The Browns are now 1-4 after their opening five games after they were taught a lesson by the Commanders who were led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Watson cut a frustrated figure himself after the defeat and echoed a similar sentiment to Stefanski during his post-match interview.

The 29-year-old said: “We shoot ourselves in the foot. It is tough.

“The offense is going to go as far as I go. So, at the end of the day, we’re not doing enough offensively. We have got to figure it out quickly.”

While he also went some way to explaining the mess that saw him have to leave the field, adding: “Too many men on the huddle and that was it.

“We just have got to lock in, that’s all I can say right now.”

After Watson left the field the Browns were forced to take a 5-yard delay penalty and settle for a field goal.

Watson has taken the blame for the Browns’ shortcomings in recent times with the star QB unable to live up to the expectations that came with his $230MILLION contract.

But Stefanski has stood firm that he won’t be dropping the three-time Pro Bowler.

When quizzed on the possibility of playing a different quarterback, he defiantly responded: “We’re not changing quarterbacks.

“We need to play better. I need to coach better. That’s really what it is.”

AP

Stefanski has backed his own decision to keep Watson as his starting quarterback[/caption]

The comic book industry veteran was previously the publisher of indie comic company IDW.

This musical takes a sharp look at society’s double standards, where politics, crime and satire collide.

Sinwar, whose status remained unknown after he went quiet on Sep. 22, resurfaced Monday to speak to Hamas' delegation in Doha.

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The Minnesota-based company is specifically recalling Lone Star Dip products sold in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.