Maryland General Assembly 2009
Delegation wants county excluded from speed camera law
ANNAPOLIS — Speed cameras could be placed within a half-mile of a school or construction zone under a bill being considered by the Maryland General Assembly.
However, some members of Washington County’s delegation in Annapolis said Wednesday that in some of the county’s smaller towns, like Clear Spring or Hancock, the legislation could effectively blanket the entire town with speed cameras — turning Washington County towns into speed traps.
Del. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, says speed cameras are an invasion of privacy and “un-American,” and is calling on Washington County to be exempted from a bill that would allow the devices statewide.
Shank asked other members of the delegation Wednesday if they would support an amendment that would exclude Washington County from the bill that allows speed cameras in construction and school zones.
The delegation, with the exception of Del. Richard B. Weldon Jr., supported Shank’s amendment. Del. John P. Donoghue, D-Washington, was absent, but later said he did not support the change.
The bill
Under the speed cameras bill, cameras would be allowed within a half-mile of a work or a school zone. The cameras would operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. year-round, but not on weekends. Motorists would have to be driving at least 12 mph over the speed limit in order to be ticketed.
The car’s owner would receive a fine, but no points on his or her license.
Montgomery County, Md., currently has a pilot program in place with speed camera enforcement.
Shank sponsored a similar amendment last year that excluded Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties from legislation allowing speed cameras.
Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington, voted in favor of Shank’s amendment, but Shank criticized Munson’s earlier decision to vote in favor of the speed camera bill in the Senate.
“I’m very troubled by Sen. Munson’s votes on the issue,” Shank said. “He voted three times for speed cameras on a closely contested bill where he could have made a difference for Washington County by either killing it or exempting Washington County.”
Shank said he was disappointed that Munson did not “do more to stand up for Washington County” on the issue of speed cameras.
Munson said his vote would not have changed the outcome of the speed camera bill, which has passed in the Senate.
“That’s silly, and Chris knows better,” he said. “Chris can count votes as well as I do.”
The final vote on the bill in the Senate was 27-20, with Munson in favor. Sen. George C. Edwards, Garrett/Allegany/Washington, and Sen. Alex X. Mooney, R-Frederick/Washington, were opposed.
However, an earlier vote on the bill was 23-24.
“I really don’t understand why Chris is so upset with me,” Munson said. “He’s unhappy if I support him. He’s unhappy when I don’t support him. He can’t have it both ways.”
Mooney tried to filibuster the issue during Senate debates.
“I hate those things,” he said of speed cameras.
Del. LeRoy Myers Jr., R-Washington/Allegany, said the best way to stop drivers from speeding in school and construction zones would be to saturate those areas with additional law enforcement.
Shank agreed, and said he has seen police officers in the North End of Hagerstown doing just that.
“It’s the responsibility of law enforcement to enforce the law, and to have an anonymous computer generate a ticket when you don’t have the right to see your accuser (is wrong),” Shank said.
Local opinion
Hagerstown Police Chief Arthur Smith said the department has not considered speed cameras yet, but said officers probably do the majority of their speed enforcement around Winter Street Elementary. Smith said that while the department has not taken a position on the topic, some praise the cameras, saying they monitor speeders and free up more time for officers to stay on patrol.
Smith said officers also save time usually spent in court for speeding cases, which would save money that would otherwise be spent on overtime pay.
“You have more officers on the streets, not in court,” Smith said.
Hagerstown Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II said anything would be helpful that would reduce traffic hazards around schools and construction sites.
“I think (speed cameras) would be a deterrent and remind people that you need to watch your speed in those areas, especially around the schools,” Bruchey said.
Donoghue said he supports speed cameras and opposes efforts to exclude Washington County from the bill.
“I think it’s important that we protect school children and construction workers,” he said.
Donoghue said the delegation’s amendment is likely to fail, and that he will vote against it.
“It doesn’t do any good for Washington County to be the only part of the state to not allow our local officials to have the (legislation) to protect children and construction workers,” he said.
Washington County Sheriff Douglas F. Mullendore said speed cameras might work in the municipalities, but he would resist efforts to install the cameras countywide.
“I don’t really see them as having much of an effect on the speed problems we have in the county,” he said. “The only appropriate way is for officers to observe the speed violations and actually cite the violator.”
Myers said he also has concerns about the revenue-generating aspect of the speed cameras. He said companies will install them for free, expecting a large portion of the revenue raised from the tickets.
The fines will be the same no matter the speed — about $40 — and no points will be assigned, regardless of whether the person is driving 15 mph over the posted speed limit or 115 mph over.
“A different level of punishment is needed,” Myers said.
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