If you're in the city, you're likely in a school zone
Since Oct. 1, state law has allowed Baltimore and other local jurisdictions to install speed cameras in school zones and to issue $40 tickets based on photographic evidence that vehicles were exceeding the speed limit by 12 mph or more.
So Scott Levitan of Baltimore had this inquiry:
Since the City is stepping up enforcement of speed cameras in school
zones, could someone please clarify when school zones end? School zone
signs post the commencement of the zone, but there is no sign posted to
indicate the termination.
I asked Jamie Kendrick, deputy director of the city's Department of Transportation, about this. Kendrick confirmed that it is not the city's practice to post "End School Zone" signs. That, he said, would be tantamount to posting a sign saying "Speed Up." Not only would it be a considerable expense, he noted, it would add visual clutter to the landscape.
Kendrick said the prudent course for drivers is to assume that if they're in the city, they are in a school zone. The state speed camera law defines the zones as being within a half-mile of a school. In Baltimore, that translates to roughly 86 percent of the city's land mass, he said. (See map above.)
So really, there are might few areas of the city where you can make like a NASCAR driver with any confidence you'll get away with it. You coould try the industrial Fairfield peninsula, but chances are you'd tear out your undercarriage on the roads down there. You could try Broening Highway, down by the marine terminals, but the Maryland Transportation Authority Police keep a close eye on speeders down that way. And unlike the city police, they're unlikely to be distracted by the homicide(s) du jour. North Charles Street above Cold Spring looks to be camera-free, but there are generally plenty of cops out on that main drag.
So Kendrick advises that if you see a school zone sign, "slow down and stay slowed down."
Of course, if you're on a two-way street, the end of the zone will be marked by a school zone sign pointing in the other direction. You could just keep glancing over your shoulder to tell when you've reached that point, but somehow that doesn't seem to be a great idea.
If you want to know where speed cameras are actually posted, here's a link to the city's locations:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-cameramap0924,0,675233.htmlpage
And if it's Baltimore County that interests you, here's another:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/bal-baltoco-cameras,0,6219578.htmlpage
Comments
Whoa. Guess I'll stop flying up Calvert St., then.
Posted by: Liz Kay | November 13, 2009 11:39 AM
I am a GIS, digital mapping professional and new the spread would look like that. I totally find politicians disgusting for using the "School zones" term. Just say you will put them "everywhere and anywhere". At least that's honest.
The remaining 14% not covered can be by putting down a construction cone. Happy voting.
Posted by: Hank | November 13, 2009 11:28 PM
So Hank,
What you're saying is that the drivers shouldn't drive the SPEED LIMIT when they're close enough to schools that they could encounter children WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL! I don't care if it's also a revenue generator. If you're speeding, you deserve the ticket you get. I've gotten a few speeding tickets in my time and deserved every one.
Posted by: cabterp | November 16, 2009 2:38 PM
Yes, Liz, please do. I live there. I walk there. I ride my bike there. I even drive there. I don't want anyone speeding there, even if they do write a nice little column for the Sun. And you should stop speeding because there's Margaret Brent Elementary School on Calvert and the kids are often playing there around plenty of cross walks without lights (where they have right of way)... not because you might lose some money with to a ticket.
And Hank, I agree, they should place speeding cameras everywhere in Baltimore so that anyone who speeds, anytime, will be punished. Of all the things the city gets revenue from, I think driver negligence should be the least controversial.
Posted by: Fritz | November 20, 2009 4:30 PM
Ahhh I so love it when the cheapo MS Paint illustrations I create for our website gets copied by 'professional journalists'. But as usual, Dresser, you are missing some critical points.
First a school zone does NOT automatically exist on all roads within a 1/2mile radius, they are merely potential school zones. This is by state law:
http://www.marylandroads.com/OOTS/ASE_Schools_Zone_Guidelines.pdf
"A school zone is officially designated as such when the required signs are installed. Designated school zone signs should only be installed where school facilities are in actual use for school activities."
State guidelines specify that signs are required at both the beginning and end of a school zone. If Baltimore City's 'practice' is something else, they are simply doing it wrong.
In fact, Baltimore confirmed to us in writing that the school zones where speed cameras are being placed were NOT pre-existing. Rainna P. Strauss from the Baltimore Department of Transportation stated the following "You asked if the locations for speed cameras were all pre-existing school zones. No they were not." And abcnews2 reported that at least one speed camera was installed prior to the installation of 'school zone' signs.
And yes, state law does specify speed cameras to be 'in school zones' not 'potential school zones' or 'within 1/2 mile'. But I suppose the law doesn't apply to the local Boss Hog. Blagovich would be proud.
Posted by: StopBigBrotherMD.org | November 25, 2009 6:47 AM