Montgomery County Leads State In Speed Camera Fines: AAA

ROCKVILLE, MD — When it come to speed cameras in Maryland, Montgomery County forked over the most money in fiscal year 2018.

According to a new report from AAA Mid-Atlantic, speed cameras in Montgomery County raked in nearly $16 million in revenue — which accounts for almost a quarter of the state's $64 million in automated traffic enforcement fine revenue over the last year.

"In Maryland, speed camera citations are issued to motorists exceeding the posted speed limit in school zones and work zones (Maryland Safe Zones) by 12 mph or greater," said Ragina Cooper Averella, manager of Public and Government Affairs at AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Speedy motorists are required to pay a $40 fine for each infraction caught on a speed camera. Averella says the fine usually deters people from speeding, or at least compels them to slow down within the range of a speed camera.

"Research indicates, nearly a third of speed camera tickets are issued to motorists caught speeding one mile per hour over the threshold speed that triggers the flash of the speed camera," Averella said.

In Montgomery County, speed cameras generated $15.95 million from 398,871 citations. Drivers in Gaithersburg and Rockville paid $2.17 million and $1.8 in fines, respectively, according to AAA.

From all the jurisdictions with speed cameras in Maryland, the city of Baltimore had the second most lucrative system. Drivers in Baltimore City during fiscal year 2018 had to pay $9.6 million in citations. The third-highest amount came from Prince George's County, with $6.89 million in revenue. At the bottom of the list is Howard County, with a revenue total of $1.19 million.

Click here to see the complete list from AAA Mid-Atlantic.