Annapolis Will Soon Add Speed Cameras To School Zones
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ)—Speeding drivers in Annapolis, get ready to slow down. The city is preparing to launch its first speed cameras.
Monique Griego has more on where the cameras will be.
The school zone near Mills Parole Elementary is one of two set to get cameras on March 1. But that's just the beginning. Within the next two months, eight more zones will be watched by cameras.
Speeders in Annapolis beware. City police will soon have more eyes on drivers racing through school zones.
"I've seen people come 40-50 miles per hour down it," said Patrick Delaney, who lives across the street from Mills Parole Elementary.
It and Germantown Elementary are the first two schools set to be monitored by the city speed cameras.
Mayor Joshua Cohen says it's all about safety.
"Parents in a lot of neighborhoods asked the city to help with traffic calming, with stripes, with radar enforcement," said Cohen.
The cameras, which may be fixed or mobile, will only operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
While they're scheduled to activate on March 1, warning notices will be given for the first 30 days. After that, a ticket will cost you $40. But police say revenue isn't the goal.
"It's really helpful when people recognize this device that they slow down," said Chief Mike Pristoop, Annapolis Police.
The city plans to have eight more school zones under automated enforcement by the end of April.
"Hopefully it will help. I don't know if I trust the technology either given its previous record," Delaney said.
This year Baltimore reversed thousands of tickets from faulty speed cameras.
Cohen says he's confident this program won't have the same problems.
"Credibility is important. The public needs to have confidence that the speed cameras are solid, calibrated and all that," he said.
As required by Maryland law, any revenue from these cameras will go toward public safety programs and increasing pedestrian safety.
Police say a limited number of cameras will be moving between various locations.
For a complete list of where the cameras will be, click here.
