District to Seek Restitution in Bridge Accident

"Our rule of thumb is, anything less than $100, we don't pursue it," Buck said. "But in the overwhelming majority of cases, the damage is above and beyond $500."

Although most charges for roadway repairs are in the hundreds or thousands of dollars, VDOT spokesman Colin Ceperich said, his agency will soon be sending out one or more bills totaling $250,000 for a July 7 crash and chemical spill involving three trucks on Interstate 95 near Fredericksburg. A 200-yard stretch of the highway had to be repaved, Ceperich said, and the state incurred a large expense in hauling away contaminated material.

Local officials said they also mail out bills for roadway damage.

"We always request 100 percent," said Susan Hubbard, a spokeswoman for the Prince George's County Department of Public Works and Transportation. But like her counterpart in Montgomery County, she said that going to court against drivers over small amounts isn't cost-effective, so the county takes what it can get.

In Alexandria, Rich Baier, director of transportation and environmental services, said his agency bills every driver who negligently damages city property.

"We follow it to nth degree," Baier said. Although the city often has to fight for the money in court, he said, "we have a pretty good success rate."

Staff writers Steven Ginsberg and Philip Rucker contributed to this report.