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Traffic Division - Red Light Camera Enforcement

Collision Reconstruction Unit

Alcohol Initiatives Unit

Automated Traffic Enforcement Unit

School Safety Unit

Decentralized Motor Carrier

Safety Inspection Unit

Existing Maryland Law Red Light Camera Legislation:
Transportation Article 21-202.1 allows law enforcement agencies in Maryland to utilize automated cameras to identify vehicles which violate red light laws. This law took effect October 1, 1997.

Highlights of Montgomery County, Maryland's Red Light Enforcement Camera Program

• Enforcement Cameras consistently work 24 hrs a day/7 days a week
• Registered owner receives a $75.00 civil citation.
• Online Payments may be made online at https://onlineviolation.com/montgomerymd
  (other payment options below)
• No points will be issued against the vehicle owner’s driving record (similar to a parking ticket)
• Insurance companies cannot consider the ticket in calculating insurance rates
• Failure to pay fines will result in one’s inability to renew the vehicle registration.

RED LIGHT ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS

Red Light Camera Locations

Frequently Asked Questions about Red Light Cameras

HOW LASER RMS (LASER RED LIGHT MONITORING SYSTEM) TECHNOLOGY WORKS

The laser RMS is an automated Red light enforcement system using digital imaging technology with above ground laser based violation detection. Each laser RMS unit consists of three assemblies that monitor multiple lanes of traffic simultaneously.

1. Laser Detection: Laser Detection detects the presence of a red light violation. Each laser beam is aligned to a specific lane, crossing the monitored lane at an angle ensuring all vehicle types are detected.
    
2. Camera Assembly:  Camera Assembly captures four images of the violating vehicle.
   
    
   • The first image: A wide angle, color, digital image showing the vehicle behind that stop bar, clearly showing the illuminated red light
   • The second image: High-resolution monochrome image is taken as the vehicle enters the intersection, displaying detailed vehicle and license plate information
   • The third image: An additional high-resolution image is taken at a delayed time to capture license plates
     
      
     • Data bar: All three images include a data bar at the top of the image, showing the following information.
       •  Violation number.
       •  Date and time.
       •  Duration of yellow signal time.
       •  Duration of the red signal time.
       •  Location.
       •  Vehicle speed.
       •  Lane number.
       •  Photo image number.
          
3. Controller Assembly: Manages overall system functions and stores violation images and data:
   
    
   • The Laser RMS Controller assembly provides fully automated management of all vital camera and timing settings
   • The controller monitors the readings from the Laser Detection Assembly, monitors signal phase-at “yellow” light, the system is readied, and at “red”, the system is armed and determines when and in what lane the violation will occur
   • All related violations data is stored at the same time with all associated violations images in one secure encrypted and encoded file
   • Each file is encoded with a security stamp providing proof that the file has not been altered in any way
   • Communication software requires an authorized IP address and user name/password before the roadside Controller is accessible. Login attempts are denied from unauthorized computers.

SYSTEM SELF-TESTS

• Each roadside system performs a thorough self-test once a day, checking both the laser detection system and the camera assembly.
• The self-test file indicates any laser detection problems or faults with the camera system.
•  If the system recognizes the need to shut down, the time and date of such shutdown is recorded.
• Monthly reports including self-tests logs, maintenance performed, identified errors, and non- operational time are provided to County on a monthly bases.
  

Red Light Camera Locations: (Subject to Change)
 

Old Georgetown Road & Edson Lane
Rockville Pike @ Grosvenor Lane
Frederick Road & Shady Grove Road
NB Route 29 & Dale Drive
SB Route 29 @ Fairland Road
SB Georgia Avenue @ Randolph Road
N Frederick Rd & Montgomery Village Ave
River Road & Goldsboro Road
SB Georgia Avenue & Norbeck Road
East University Blvd @ Colesville Road
SB Georgia Avenue @ Connecticut Avenue
NB Wisconsin Ave & Montgomery Lane
Shady Grove Road & Research Blvd.
NB Connecticut Ave @ Randolph Road
East Gude Drive & Southlawn Lane
New Hampshire Avenue & Lockwood Drive
Rockville Pike & Halpine Lane
EB University Blvd @ Inwood Avenue
Colesville Road & Fenton Street
River Road & Wilson Lane

SB New Hampshire Ave @ Dilston Lane
SB Georgia Avenue @ Colesville Road
MidCounty Hwy & Goshen Road
SB Viers Mill Road @ Twinbrook Pkwy
Viers Mill Road & Reedie Drive
NB Viers Mill Road @ Newport Mill Road
WB Randolph Road @ Kemp Mill Road
RT. 124 & Firstfield Road WB Randolph Road @ Selfridge Road
EB Randolph Road & Dewey Road
WB E Gude Drive & Crabbs Branch
EB Redland Road & Crabbs Branch Road
Shady Grove Road @ Briardale Road
SB 355 @ Middlebrook Road
SB Georgia Avenue @ 16th Street
NB Connecticut Avenue @ Knowles Ave
NB Rockville Pike @ First Street
WB Shady Grove @ MD 355/Frederick Rd
WB Shady Grove @ MD 355/Frederick Rd
SB Wisconsin Ave. @ Cheltenham Drive

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if I receive a citation in the mail?
Once an individual receives a red-light citation, they can pay the fine by several methods:

1.  By Mail
Mail in a check or money order to:
MCPD Automated Red Light Enforcement Program
P.O.Box 7190
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-7190

When mailing in a payment, please include the payment coupon, along with writing your citation number on your check or money order.

2.  In Person
     Make a walk-in payment at either Montgomery County’s
Finance Department:
255 Rockville Pike
 Suite # L-15
 Rockville, MD 20849
 (240)777-8970
8:30 - 4:30 M-F

or

Red Light Enforcement Program
910 Clopper Road
Suite 175-S
Gaithersburg, MD  20878
301-527-1900
8:00 - 5:30 M-F

Forms of payment are cash, check, money order or credit card.  You will need to pay by certified bank check or credit card if your vehicle tags have been suspended.

3.  By Phone
Payments are accepted by phone at 301-527-1900.

4.  Online
Payments may be made online at https://onlineviolation.com/montgomerymd

What is automated photo enforcement?
Automated photo enforcement is for the safety of Montgomery County citizens. Cameras help enforce traffic laws and reduce Red-Light violations.  Photos are taken from the rear of the vehicle, capturing the license plate, not showing the passengers or the driver. 

What are the goals of the automated photo enforcement program?
Reduce traffic violations, resulting in the decrease of crashes and personal injuries. In five years, our cameras have contributed to a dramatic reduction in red-light running, thus saving hundreds of lives. 

When a violation occurs, who receives the citation?
Citations are mailed to the registered vehicle owner, as determined by the photo of the license plate. 

What if the registered vehicle owner was not driving the vehicle?
According to Maryland State law, the registered vehicle owner is responsible for the citation. However, if the driver is willing to pay the fine no points will be assessed to the vehicle owner. However, the vehicle owner may request a court date and provide the court with the actual driver of the vehicles full name and address. The judge may or may not transfer the citation to the driver. Ultimately, the vehicle owner is responsible for the citation if the fine is unpaid. 

What if your car was in a funeral procession?
The vehicle owner must contact the funeral home after receiving the citation. The funeral home then should either fax or mail a statement on their letter head confirming the citation number, date and time of the procession, along with the person’s name. Upon receiving this fax or letter, MCPD may void out the citation after review of the violation.

Can I contest a red-light citation?
All red-light citation can be contested. However, the individual must send in the court request coupon found at the bottom of the citation, 5 days prior to the initial payment due date.

Is the signal time for a yellow light the same at all intersections with red light cameras or is the signal timing independent of the red light cameras?
Yellow clearance times are specific to an intersection and are independent of the existence of a red light camera. They are determined based on an accepted traffic engineering formula that takes into account for speed and grade. Specifically, Montgomery County follows the specifications and guidelines for traffic control devices that are contained in the nationally recognized Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which is published by the Federal Highway Administration. For a steady yellow signal immediately before a steady red signal at a signalized intersection, the MUTCD recommends duration of between three to six seconds. Additional guidance from the Institute of Transportation Engineers is used to establish the exact duration of the yellow signal that takes into account traffic speed and whether the approach to the intersection is uphill, downhill of flat. 

How are camera locations selected?
Police review numerous intersections based on crash data, public input (i.e. complaints about intersection safety) and police personnel observation.  Citizen requests for additional red light camera locations may be submitted to the Police Department at mcpd.redlight@montgomerycountymd.gov.