Speed cameras in Maryland are installed throughout all counties. Maryland law restricts the use of these speed cameras to school zones and residential areas with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or under.
These speed cameras in Maryland serve a crucial purpose in our communities. They are designed to help reduce speeding in high-risk areas. They capture images of vehicles traveling above the speed limit, which can lead to speeding citations being issued by the police. This promotes safer driving habits and protects our neighborhoods. In essence, speeding cameras are used for photo enforcement and create recorded images of vehicles that exceed the set speed threshold.
Do You Have to Pay Speeding Camera Tickets in Maryland?
Yes, you need to pay for speeding camera tickets in Maryland. Although these citations are often minor offenses, they come with fines and a court date. Ignoring them can lead to severe consequences, such as suspending your vehicle registration, incurring additional penalties, and potentially facing a warrant for your arrest.
Hiring a Maryland traffic lawyer from The Law Offices of Krum, Gergely, & Oates is wise for handling the ticket for you. They can manage the case and protect your rights throughout the process.
Are Speeding Cameras Legal?
Yes, speeding cameras are legal in Maryland. They detect speeding violations and catch other infractions, such as running red lights and driving through toll booths without paying. This legal use is part of Maryland’s commitment to road safety and law enforcement.
Maryland’s law permitting speed cameras in work zones started in 2009. Around the same time, the Maryland Transportation Authority, Maryland State Police, and Maryland State Highway Administration launched a pilot program called “Maryland Safe Zones” to use speed cameras in work zones on expressways and highways. Later, these cameras were also used in school zones.
In addition to work and school zones, speed cameras are allowed in specific areas designated by law, including Route 210 in Prince George’s County and certain residential areas in Montgomery County.
How Does a Speed Camera Work?
Speed cameras automatically take photos of a vehicle over 12 mph over the posted speed limit. The image captures the speeding violation’s date, time, location, vehicle speed, and license plate number.
A police officer reviews the photo from the speed camera to identify the vehicle’s registered owner using the license plate. The driver then receives a citation in the mail, which includes the violation photo and details about the vehicle’s speed.
How Many Speeding Cameras Are in Maryland?
Speed cameras are spread throughout Maryland, often on dangerous roads and areas where speeding is common.
According to Maryland law, speed cameras can also be used within half a mile of a school. These cameras operate Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 8 PM in school zones. Local governments must inform the public about the locations of speed cameras on their websites and in local newspapers.
You can check work zone camera locations on the Safe Zones website. Speed cameras are allowed in work zones on highways with speed limits over 45 miles per hour and can operate all day, whether or not work is being done.
Dealing with Speed Camera Tickets
While speed cameras are generally effective, they do have some issues. For example, speed cameras can malfunction and issue tickets to drivers who aren’t speeding.
Sometimes, the registered owner of a vehicle might not have been driving when the speed camera recorded the speeding. In these cases, the driver must show proof they weren’t moving, like a sworn statement from their employer saying where they were at the time.
You may need to attend a hearing at one of Maryland’s District Courts to contest a ticket. While this may seem intimidating, it’s a straightforward process that allows you to present your case and defend your rights as a driver.
Having a lawyer request a hearing and challenge the tickets on your behalf can be helpful. An experienced attorney will know how to present arguments to the judge and what evidence might help reduce or dismiss the citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
A speeding camera ticket comes with a $40 fine.
When you get a ticket, you have two choices: pay it or contest it at a Maryland District Court. For vehicles registered in Maryland, tickets are mailed up to 14 days after the violation.
You don’t need to sign anything if you pay for the ticket. If you want to contest it, you must fill out the request form at the bottom of the citation, sign it, and mail it to:
Maryland SafeZones
P.O. Box 17648
Baltimore, MD 21297
If you contest the ticket and are unhappy with the judge’s decision, you have 30 days to appeal. To appeal, you need to fill out the appropriate form, which you can find on the Maryland District Court’s website, and submit it along with any supporting evidence to the court that issued the original decision.
Speeding camera tickets are considered civil violations, not criminal matters. Therefore, they won’t go on your record or add points to your driver’s license.
The police department of the area where the violation happened will handle any citations sent to the registered owners. They are responsible for reviewing the evidence from the speed camera, identifying the vehicle’s owner, and issuing the citation.
If you face a serious traffic offense, like drunk driving, having a skilled Maryland traffic lawyer can help keep your record clean and safeguard your driving privileges.