Maryland May Restrict Use of Speed Cameras

Embarrassing government abuses of the technology have hit the headlines

Lawmakers in Maryland are considering legislation to rein in the use of photo enforcement. In the past few months, a series of embarrassing revelations have cast doubt on the legality and accuracy of speed camera citations, including the admission that more than 5 percent of photo ticket recipients in Baltimore were likely innocent. Supporters of the technology in Annapolis are now scrambling to save a program that has lost credibility in the public eye.

Long-time opponents of automated ticketing machine like state Senator James Brochin (D-Baltimore County) also see this as an opportunity to introduce meaningful reform. On Friday, Brochin introduced a bill cracking down on the most brazen methods municipalities have been using to avoid abiding by restrictions the legislature put in place in the original authorizing statute.