With summer at a close and school buses back out on the streets we’re reminded of the three speed cameras the City of Annapolis operates to enforce school zone speed limits. Of course those of us who drive with a lead foot may have gotten a reminder earlier in the year. It turns out the city operates the cameras Monday through Friday, 6am to 8pm year round. The fine is $40 but no points are assessed for an infraction, and the city says it expects the cameras to raise $200,000 in fiscal year 2014.
Annapolis also has its toe in the red light camera waters, operating one camera at the intersection of Route 665 and Chinquapin Round Road. This is in addition to the five red light cameras Anne Arundel County operates, located at:
- Riva Road (NB) (left turn lane) @ Route 665
- Route 3 (Southbound through lanes) @ Evergreen Road
- Route 2 (Southbound through lanes) @ Route 10
- Route 2 (Southbound through lanes) @ Arnold Road
- Route 2 @ College Parkway
According to the county these cameras are producing more than $560,000 each per year in $75 citations. But their future came into question recently when Anne Arundel County Council Chairman John Grasso introduced legislation that would remove the existing cameras and prevent any more from being installed. While there’s no way to anticipate what will happen at the October 6th public hearing on the proposal, at least we haven’t been facing the issues Baltimore has had with their speed camera program.
Despite an extensive audit, the problems plaguing Baltimore’s 83 speed cameras has still not been fully uncovered, and the system has been powered down for over a year. While operating, they erroneously issued thousands of tickets to innocent motorists!
Regardless of the future of speed and red light cameras here in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, let Baltimore’s example be a cautionary tale. Always closely examine the automated tickets you receive in the mail and don’t hesitate to contest them if something seems off.
[