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Sunday, August 04, 2013

Charles Co. suspends speed cams, thousands wrongly cited

Thousands of drivers have paid speed camera fines in Charles County they never should have gotten.

The Charles County Sheriff's office has suspended its three speed cameras because at least one was placed 300 feet outside of a school zone.

The Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that commanders had recently identified an issue concerning the placement of a camera beyond a school zone sign on westbound Berry Road/Route 228. State law limits the placement of speed cameras to school zones and work zones.

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18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are all the cameras in Wicomico County in school zones?

Anonymous said...

another article, a poster stated that a school zone is a mile radius from the school. Isnt there one on S Division, by Milford st, no where near the actual school/university?

Anonymous said...

Yes,even during the summer when school is not in session.

Anonymous said...

a school "area" is a 1/2 mile radius from the school. A “School Zone” is a designated roadway segment approaching, adjacent to, and beyond* school buildings or grounds, or along which school related activities occur.
*Except in unusual circumstances and as justified by a traffic engineering study, a school zone adjacent to a school should not exceed 500 feet approaching or beyond the school or the school activity. Where that activity is a school crossing only, the school zone typically should end a short distance beyond the crossing.

Anonymous said...

I found this on the State Highway Administration website.

Are there restrictions on the days and times tickets can be issued?

Yes. Maryland law restricts the recording of images in school zones to Monday through Friday, from 6 AM to 8 PM. Within those limits, each jurisdiction or municipality may set the time periods for enforcement.

Anonymous said...

Summer school

Anonymous said...

Do they have summer school at all the schools? I thought it used to be just at one school.

Anonymous said...

The Maryland Annotated Code (TR § 21-803.1) allows School Zones to be established within a one-half mile radius of any school.

Why doesn't everyone just get over it....obey the speed limit. If we had cameras that could ticket people that park in handicap spots, everyone would cheer. Of course, except those that park in handicap spots. hmmm

Anonymous said...

In 1920

Anonymous said...

I can understand why the speed cams would be located in school areas. What I don't understand is why are they working when school is not in session? There is no school during the summer in most areas on the shore, at night and on weekends. Not to mention the holidays and teachers days when students aren't attending.

Anonymous said...

9:50
You forgot the rest of the explanation to that code

However, this does not mean that all roadways within a one-half mile radius should be a school zone. The State Highway Administration or the local authority having jurisdiction over the roadway must officially establish a School Zone and designate it with the appropriate signs before it becomes a School Zone. Refer to the discussion on “What is a School Zone?” above.

Anonymous said...

no there is a camera out front of 724 east main st and it is facing the opposite way of the school. I bet that one is over 300ft from the school zone.

Anonymous said...

I got a speed ticket in the mail from the camera in front of the Country House . I t said I was going 38 in a 25 MPH zone.

Anonymous said...

I didn't know school was in on the Fourth of July in Crisfield. Stupid camera in front of the high school was on, giving warnings.

It goes live August 12, so beware.

Anonymous said...

"It's for the children" > Bunk!

Most of the kiddies come to school in a bus or in a parent's car. And when is the last time you saw a student coming to school 90 minutes early or staying 4 hours after dismissal?

Everyone is in favor of safe kids, and would support reduced speed limits when students are actually in transit to/from school.

But auto-ticketing motorists outside those periods relies on a flimsy pretext and lessens respect for law enactment and enforcement.

Anonymous said...

I said it ALLOWS for them to be established. The point is, if a local authority deems that a route on the way to school, or along the road in front of a school is a school zone, and it fits the criteria of within a half mile, then it is legal.

Anonymous said...

And when is the last time you saw a student coming to school 90 minutes early or staying 4 hours after dismissal?

Answer: Those that come to school early to eat breakfast, and those staying for after school activities, including tutoring, sports, band, etc...

Anonymous said...

2:19 to 8:32

Kids coming for breakfast arrive via bus, car and on foot shortly before school starts - not 90 minutes early.

Kids in tutoring, sports, band, etc are there for relatively short periods after school dismisses at 2:45 for middle & HS. Parents and activity buses take most of them home; running the cameras for five (5) hours after dismissal just undercuts your point.

Run them an hour ahead of start until half-hour after start of school and from half-hour before dismissal until hour after dismissal = no complaint from me.

The rest of the camera usage is just to generate cash for the system owner which they divvy with the authorizing agency. Remember "Dire Straits" > "Money for nothing...."