Balto. Co. issues speed camera report
Baltimore County officials released a report today evaluating its 6-month-old speed camera program.
Speed cameras are in place in 15 school zones throughout the county. The first two sites were activated last March; all 15 cameras were in place by June.
A few highlights:
• The county issued 16,342 violations in July -- the first month that all cameras were in operation – a five-fold increase from the previous months.
• More than 3,000 potential violations were rejected throughout the year due to technical problems.
• Overall, the number of violations tends to decrease during the first several weeks after the camera is activated, although the overall level varies substantially among sites.
• There’s been an almost 52 percent decrease in the number of citations issued since August.
• Data involving car crashes is inconclusive. Six of the 15 locations had more traffic accidents within a one-fourth mile radius last year compared to previous years; eight had fewer. One had the same amount. Camera locations averaged 31 accidents per site before and after they were activated.
• Requests for additional cameras have come from Stoneleigh and Baltimore Highlands elementary schools, and Deer Park Middle School.
• 53,000 citations have been issued and 35,427 have been collected, generating $1.4 million. Contract costs have totaled about $1.1 million.
• Revenues go to a restricted account in the police department budget that can only be used for the actual program costs. Any additional funds may only be used for public safety projects such as technology/equipment enhancements, capital needs, staffing and matching funds.
• Additional staff will be needed for the program if it is expanded. The council is currently considering a bill that would lift the cap on the number of speed cameras.
The report, made public today, is dated Jan. 21.
-Raven L. Hill
Comments
MD speed cameras lower the burden of proof for a punishment that can lead to loss of liberty. While the state takes great care to shield this law under the lower burden of a civil penalty, it is only one degree of separation from becoming a criminal penalty.
The state could never make its burden in a criminal case because these cameras cannot identify the driver. It is a dangerous precedent that erodes a sacrosanct element of our legal system. Failure to pay a civil penalty should never set in motion a series of events that can end in a jail cell.
The exchange rate of essential freedom for temporary safety is too steep here.
http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/490751-josh-dowlut/133182-maryland-speed-cameras-constitutional-murkiness
Posted by: Josh Dowlut | January 27, 2011 7:59 PM
This data matches the reuslts seen across the nation - no real improvement in safety - no reduction in crashes which is the only true measure. These are NOT about improving safety. Traffic engineering studies are about improving safety, not taking pictures. Many cities across the nation have ENDED their camera programs because of lack of safety improvement.
Posted by: PhotoRadarScam | January 28, 2011 2:10 AM
Translated, the City NEEDS more Violations to keep the money tree going.
Check out more on the Speed SCAMERA SCAM! http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/
Also see:
www.banthecams.org
www.camerafraud.com
www.bancams.com
www.motorists.org
Posted by: Stephen Donaldson | January 28, 2011 11:19 AM
The numbers don't scream "success" do they? Nobody can tell if the program is making anyone safer. All we know is that it's making millions for the contractors - wonderful!
Perhaps OweMalley should raise the fee to $1000/per mile over the limit? Or is that already happening?
Posted by: Aman | January 28, 2011 11:22 AM
Making politically connected contractors millions of dollars you mean!
Posted by: jay | January 28, 2011 11:44 AM
Soooo, they pulled in 1.4million, but paid 1.1 million to the companies that install them? That means they have a net profit of $300,000, not to mention finding the people who never paid.
What a waste of time, money and resources. O'Malley was frothing at the mouth when he thought he would bring in millions into the maryland coffers only to find it's chump change to the state. This makes me laugh and angered. Laugh to see the cameras basically blow up in his face and angered that this horrible law is still around.
Posted by: RT | March 15, 2011 11:40 PM