About the Program 

Montgomery County’s automated speed enforcement program is the first in Maryland to enforce speed limits in residential areas and school zones with a speed limit of 35 mph or less and school zones with any speed limit. The program began March 12, 2007 with a 30-day warning period.  During that time motorists received warning notices if they were photographed speeding in the enforcement zones.
 
In 2006, the State of Maryland granted Montgomery County the authority to operate the cameras for a pilot automated speed limit enforcement program in residential areas and school zones. The municipalities of Chevy Chase Village, City of Gaithersburg, City of Rockville, and the City of Takoma Park also have speed enforcement programs under the same law.  Violators will receive a civil citation and a $40 fine. Since the violations are being treated as civil and not criminal penalties, there will be no license “points” assigned and insurance providers are not notified of the citation.

The Montgomery County Police Department currently has 60 fixed sites, six mobile speed enforcement vehicles, and 10 portable camera units.  The mobile units and portable camera units are rotated around a number of designated speed enforcement zones in residential areas and school zones across the county.

Effective October 1, 2009, the hours of operation for school zone enforcements has been changed to 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.  The school zone means an area within a half-mile radius of any school established by the State Highway Administration or County pursuant to the Maryland Transportation Code 21-803.1.

Enforcement zones are published on the police departments; website and speed enforcement signs are also placed around the county notifying drivers of the enforcement sites.  Vehicles traveling at least 12 miles per hour above the posted speed limit are subject to a speed citation where a series of photographs are taken to document the violation.  The photographs are processed and the license plate is reviewed to identify the registered owner.  The owner is sent the citation, which will include copies of the violation photos and the recorded vehicle speed. 

Additional information about the municipalities’ automated speed enforcement programs can be found on their websites.

Last Edited 07/26/2010