Dozens of citations, but no arrests: City of Milwaukee sues another 'egregious reckless driver'

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The city of Milwaukee has filed a lawsuit against a second "egregious reckless driver," in an effort to hold drivers accountable who endanger public safety.

MPD says LaShawn Thomas has racked up 37 citations in the past five years,13 of them this year alone. Thomas was served with a summons over the weekend.

Thomas has been ticketed for going 88 mph in a 35 zone, for swerving through traffic with young children unbuckled in his car, and for blowing through stop signs. MPD officers have pulled him over and ticketed him, but none of those offenses are jailable.

But contempt of court is jailable, so the city is suing to have a judge step in.

In a criminal complaint against Thomas, the city called reckless driving a chronic problem that endangers lives.

But a suspended license, warning letters from DOT, and substantial fines don't seem to matter to LaShawn Thomas.

Thirty-seven tickets likely equates to dozens of points on Thomas' driving record and thousands of dollars in fines, but he does not pay, and he does not show up to court.

Thirteen citations came in 2022 alone, including speeding 23 mph over the limit and twice speeding 28 mph over. MPD statistics show 35% of Milwaukee's 62 crash fatalities so far this year involved speeding.

In July, Thomas was pulled over for going 58 in a 30 zone, swerving, and almost hitting several other cars. A 7-year-old child was in the front seat, a 3-year-old was in the back. Neither was properly secured.

Thomas has no valid license. Eleven of his citations are for operating after suspension.

But there's not much officers can do. An attorney tells us none of Thomas' 37 citations are jailable offenses. Reckless driving is a $200 ticket but no matter how many you get you won't go to jail. And in Milwaukee, cars can only be towed for being illegally parked or if they're unregistered.

But now, the city is suing Thomas.

If a judge orders him to drive safely and he does not comply he could be found in contempt of court, which means he could go to jail and have his car seized.

MPD says there are 20 drivers like Thomas who have racked up more than 10 tickets in the past five years. Each could face similar lawsuits if they keep driving recklessly.

LaShawn Thomas is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 24 in the case where he sped 58 in a 30 and swerved through cars with children in the car.