A public service announcement from The Only Blog You'll Ever Need
I know none of you ever goes over the speed limit. But now that my car (not necessarily saying I was the driver) has gotten its second ticket from the wonderful folks in Montgomery County, I want to warn you about the Safe Speed Photo Radar program on Connecticut Avenue as you head from the Washington beltway into Chevy Chase. ...
This is like the cameras at intersections that show you running a red light, although it's a lot more vague -- basically two photos of your car and the announcement that you were going 41 mph in a 30 mph zone and you owe Montgomery County $40. Both times the "vehicle speed" was 41 mph. How likely is that?
The vehicle could have been going 41 mph or 21 mph or been at a complete stop. The photos are taken one second apart. Who knows?
I wonder why they aren't more worried about the people going 80 mph on I-95. As Rich O'Mara, a former Sun staffer, once said to a cop when he was stopped on 95 for speeding (I'm paraphrasing here), "What's wrong, officer? Were the other cars going too fast for you to catch?"
Comments
Seven posts in one day. Is that your record?
Maybe. So many possible posts. So little time. EL
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy 2 – Chimp Therapist | March 3, 2009 10:47 PM
Chevy Chase Village has long obtained much of its budget from well-meaning CT Ave. drivers transitioning from the non-town area of Montgomery County doing what feels like the correct speed for a six-lane road divided by a median, which is usually 40. The town believes it's entitled to a variance from traffic engineering guidelines by its town status. AAA and other critics insist their contracted speed cameras are strictly for money in contravention of state legislature intent. I'm calling them out for being greedy, predatory, unfair, immoral and think a case could be made they're guilty of conspiracy and racketeering. And they picked on our EL.
http://www.gazette.net/stories/061108/chevnew203754_32355.shtml
Posted by: Marty Katz | March 4, 2009 4:24 AM
Wow. I wish they'd go after the people who are going OVER 80 mph on 795 at 4:45 in the morning - many times with brights on! Come to think of it, a few lights on 795 might be nice, but that's a whole other rant!
Posted by: Joyce W. | March 4, 2009 4:57 AM
A full listing of where all the speeding cameras are in Mo Co:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/poltmpl.asp?url=/content/POL/districts/FSB/sod/speed/locations.asp
And red light camera locations:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/poltmpl.asp?url=/content/pol/districts/FSB/sod/speed/redlightCameras.asp#locations
Posted by: Trouble | March 4, 2009 6:08 AM
Thanks, EL, but I haven't souped up my moped *that* much.
Posted by: Lissa | March 4, 2009 6:22 AM
Pay attention to what is happening in Annapolis. Soon speed cameras could be operating state wide. Montgomery County makes $2.6 million a year off these cameras. With local budgets hurting many counties are hoping to add them.
Posted by: Elite Elephant Lover | March 4, 2009 8:35 AM
HA. As a matter of fact The Boy and I already knew about this camera. We had one o' them shiney two-picture spreads of his car on the fridge for a while (I marked it with a big A+). I don't remember how fast he was allegedly going, but it was pretty fast. Then again, given his track record with his car (he has PHENOMENALLY bad luck... coupled with a healthy disregard for speed limit and 'no parking' signs) I don't doubt that he was actually speeding.
Posted by: TwoToedSloth | March 4, 2009 10:05 AM
don't speed
Posted by: Here's an idea | March 4, 2009 12:03 PM