User:Thisisbossi/Sandbox/Speed cameras

Maryland
The installation and operation of automated speed enforcement is defined by § 21-809 of the State Transportation Code. The current legislation became law in 2005 and permits the use of automated speed enforcement only in Montgomery County.

History
The installation and operation of automated speed enforcement is defined by § 21-809 of the State Transportation Code. The current legislation became law in 2005 and is the first law to provide for the use of automated speed enforcement in Maryland. In 2008, legislation House Bill 364 and Senate Bill 269 proposed to expand the speed camera program to encompass the entire state, as well as increase the speed limit limitation from 35 to 45. These bills would have introduced a new § 21-810, which would have also permitted automated speed enforcement in work zones. Both bills advanced through their respective organizations, but the House and Senate failed to reconcile differences between the bills prior the the adjournment of the legislative session. Both bills ultimately failed to become law, though it is anticipated that the issue will be resurrected during the 2009 legislative session.

The automated speed enforcement program began in Montgomery County on 12 March 2006. A 30-day grace period continued into April, during which violators were issued warnings in lieu of citations. The initial equipment listing included 6 mobile units, which are vans equipped with the automated enforcement camera equipment. .

Placement
County and municipality agencies are responsible for determining the location of, installing, operating, and maintaining automated speed enforcement systems. The responsibility for locating systems is typically delegated to the police department under the rationale that automated enforcement could be considered to place what would otherwise have been a uniformed police officer manning the same position.

State agencies and local public works and transportation departments do not have any direct input on automated speed enforcement systems, other than to provide information requested by the police agency or to review design plans for permanent installations.

Automated speed enforcement systems are permitted for use only in Montgomery County, including municipalities located within the County. Systems may be installed when one of two conditions are met:


 * 1) In a residential district as defined by § 21-101 with a posted speed limit of 35 mile per hour or less, as established by generally accepted traffic engineering practices.
 * 2) In a school zone established under § 21-803.1.

Revenue
By law, contractors operating automated speed enforcement devices are not permitted to collect a fee contingent on the number of citations issued or paid. Revenue raised by public agencies is required to go toward public safety purposes, including pedestrian safety programs.

Locations
The following values include both permanent and rotating installations. Opposite directions along a roadway are treated as a single combined location, rather than two separate locations.


 * 26 - Montgomery County
 * 16 - Rockville
 * 4 - Gaithersburg
 * 4 - Chevy Chase Village
 * 1 - Poolesville

Challenges and criticism
As of July 2008, there were three challenges against the automated speed enforcement program, of which the program successfully defended each case. In the third challenge, a professional traffic engineer fought a citation received while his daughter was reportedly operating his vehicle. The defense, among several arguments, noted that automated speed enforcement systems may be installed in residential areas only when the speed limit has been established by generally accepted traffic engineering practices, but it was found that the most recent speed study along the roadway was conducted in 1982. Ultimately, all fees and fines were returned, albeit the ruling maintained the guilty decision.

In June 2008, it was revealed that the revenue generated by the automated speed enforcement program in Chevy Chase Village was approaching the total operating cost of the village. Some criticism was weighed against this announcement as furthering the impression that automated speed enforcement is utilized as a tool for generating revenue.

In March 2008, a Washington Post article reported that police in Montgomery County were refusing to pay fines attained while operating police vehicles.

An additional criticism has been levied that automated speed enforcement is being installed on comparatively safe roads. Citing a report published by the county, a February 2008 Fox News report found that automated speed enforcement installations do not always compare with higher-crash locations.