The money behind Maryland's speed cameras
The connection between money and legislation is often worth exploring.
A Web site that says it examines automotive issues from a political perspective has done just that, after the Maryland General Assembly adopted a statewide speed camera program earlier this month.
The results are intriguing – but also a bit misleading.
The site has compiled campaign contributions and lobbying expenses of four companies it says are in the automated camera business. It concluded that American Traffic Solutions of Arizona; Affiliated Computer Services of Texas; Sigma Apace of Maryland and Traffipax of Germany made $183,780 in Maryland campaign donations between 1999 and 2009.
Those four companies also dished out $213,055 during the same period to lobbyists representing their interests in the State House. (Receiving the most: Alexander and Cleaver, at $79,285)
Thenewspaper then adds the money that Nationwide, Geico and State Farm spent on campaign contributions, and concludes that the special interest money spent to get the speed camera bill passed was nearly $700,000.
Here’s why the figures are a bit misleading. Most of the campaign contributions came from one company: ACS. A ten-year frame of reference is awfully broad; it works out to less than $5,000 per company per year in donations. Plus, insurance companies are heavily regulated by the state, and have a broad range of interests – not just speed cameras.
Still, the report illustrates an unassailable truth: Some company or companies will make a lot of money when speed cameras come to Maryland. And to do business with the state, a company needs to pay to make sure its back is covered.
The report came to our attention from a posting on the Baltimore Sun’s message board by poster abrahamhlincoln, who found it on the Web site thetruthaboutcars.com. For those outraged at the speed camera program, the figures will only add to the fury.
Comments
Wow, talk about bought and sold! Although I would still say the fact that 90% of this money going to the state...so taxes never fail to motivate some folks like Martin O'Malley who passed the biggest tax hike in MD history (hey maybe speed cameras will surpass that!)
Posted by: Wowsers | April 22, 2009 5:44 PM
90% of this money is going to the State? Where did you get that idea? And most of the money the State may collect is dedicated to specific purposes.
In the bill that passed the General Assembly this year, the money moves just like it does for parking tickets: the jurisdiction that issues the ticket gets the money. In Montgomery County's program, few of the tickets are appealed, so that's where most of the money goes. (There is a caveat here. Speed cameras cannot make up more than 10% of a local jurisdiction's total revenue. If it does, the excess goes to the State.)
If the ticket is issued by a State agency, such as the State Police, or the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, the money will go to the State.
The exception is when a ticket is contested in the District Court. In that case, the money goes mostly to motor carrier enforcement and vehicle inspection costs for the departments of Transportation and State Police. Any remainder goes to road construction and maintenance.
The District Court may also assess $22.50 in court costs which go to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund and the Victims and Witness Protection Fund.
Posted by: Lies and Statistics | April 23, 2009 8:46 AM
"90% of this money is going to the State? Where did you get that idea? And most of the money the State may collect is dedicated to specific purposes."
Actually, the bill as written states
"(II) 1. FOR ANY FISCAL YEAR, IF THE BALANCE
REMAINING FROM THE FINES COLLECTED BY A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION AS A
RESULT OF VIOLATIONS ENFORCED BY SPEED MONITORING SYSTEMS, AFTER
THE COSTS OF IMPLEMENTING AND ADMINISTERING THE SYSTEMS ARE
RECOVERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBPARAGRAPH (I)1 OF THIS PARAGRAPH,
IS GREATER THAN 10% OF THE TOTAL REVENUES OF THE POLITICAL
SUBDIVISION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION SHALL REMIT
ANY FUNDS THAT EXCEED 10% OF THE TOTAL REVENUES TO THE
COMPTROLLER.
2. THE COMPTROLLER SHALL DEPOSIT ANY MONEY
REMITTED UNDER THIS SUBPARAGRAPH TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE
STATE."
THE GENERAL FUND, no specific purpose at all.
Posted by: Fed Up | April 23, 2009 4:14 PM