Speed Camera in Catonsville Torched
The camera was at the newest location at the intersection of Brook Road and Gary Drive on South Rolling Road.
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The speed camera on South Rolling Road in Catonsville was destroyed after vandals set fire to the metal box early Friday morning, according to police.
The act comes a week after the speed camera and cement pad were installed by the county at the intersection of Brook Road and Gary Drive on South Rolling Road.
Officials had added the third site along South Rolling Road after many residents complained about excessive speeding along that stretch of the road.
Police received a call at 1:40 a.m. for a fire along the 400 block of South Rolling Road, according to police spokeswoman Elise Armacost.
When Engine 41 from Catonsville responded to the scene, firefighters saw that the metal box that holds the camera was on fire. Firefighters extinquished it and police investigators were called to the scene, Armacost said.
Police determined that the fire was a first-degree malicious burning, but said they do not have any suspects at this time.
Armacost said the fire caused $13,000 in damages.
Marty Haggerty, who lives on South Rolling Road across the street from the camera, was woken up by his wife last night.
He watched as firefighters extinguished the camera, which he said was in flames.
"It was frightening," he said. "My kids were crying."
Haggerty, who worked along with many neighbors along that stretch of road to add the camera, said he was angered by the act of vandalism. He said he thought the fire was set by someone who didn't like the camera.
"If you're opposed to the speed camera, you don't do an act of terrorism," he said. "We got this camera by playing by the rules."
Baltimore County speed cameras have been vandalized in the past. Someone spray painted a camera near Sparrows Point High School in Edgemere and someone broke the lens on a camera near Padonia Elementary School in Cockeysville, according to police.
Baltimore County officials said they have contacted the vendor and expect to install a new camera. In the meantime, the speed camera that rotates between both sides of South Rolling Road by Catonsville High School will still be in operation.
Mark Shrader
3:50 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Congrats to the vandals!
Since we don't get a chance to vote on whether we should have speed cameras or not, then we should get rid of them in anyway we see fit!
Jay Moss
9:49 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Brilliant! Hey, I have an idea. How about just following the speed limit?
Dave
6:36 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012
How about setting the speed limit to a figure that people would naturally drive if they didn't know what the posted limit was?
That will never happen because then everyone's happy and traffic moves as it should.
Oh, sorry, not 'everyone'. The politicians want to fill their coffers and this is an easy, guaranteed way.... simply mentioning 'the children' is enough to get all the gullible and naive people to back them!
Ryan
6:47 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Hilarious!
Anonymous
5:54 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012
Bravo to the vandals. This piece of s*** program the state has is clearly a money making scheme to rob those of cash at a time when the recession is still hitting hard. Why else would the speed on one street suddenly change by as little as 5 miles an hour which can make a difference on whether or not you get a ticket. Also is there a reason why speed cameras are strategically placed in areas where motorists are going to naturally speed unless they apply the breaks like at the middle or the bottom of a downhill street. Hmm, nothing there sounds strange to you speed camera supporters? Or how about when there are signs saying it's a school zone area, but yet the school is like 20 blocks away or better yet, can't be seen at all. Think about those kinds of things you idiot speed camera supporters before you go insulting those that are against this money sucking vacuum.