Howard County Speed Cameras 'Snap' Thousands of Violators

Since Howard County's speed camera program began issuing tickets about seven weeks ago, some 2,857 citations have been issued, according to Howard County Police.

The program began issuing $40 tickets to violators on Nov. 16, following a month of warnings starting in October. Police spokesperson Elizabeth Schroen said 737 warning notices were sent during the 30-day warning period.

In the seven weeks since warnings ended, police report $40,000 in fines have been collected for 1,000 citations. The remainder "are pending payment," says Schroen. They total an additional $74,280 in fines.

Citations with fines are issued to drivers traveling 12 mph or more above the speed limit but do not add penalty points to the violator's driving record.

The two roving speed cameras are mounted on vans that rotate among streets in Howard County school zones. The vans are moved throughout the day, say police.

All fines collected go back into the speed camera program to pay for operations, said Schroen. Leftover funds are designated for public safety programs, but "to date there have been not been any funds generated over costs," Schroen added.

Many counties and cities in Maryland have seen generated during the past few years, with much of the money going to support police and fire departments.

The list of speed camera locations is updated by HCPD every Thursday on its website, along with a list of Frequently Asked Questions. Patch also has a list of posted locations here.

How do you think the speed camera program is working so far? Tell us in the comments.