A proposal to allow speed cameras near highway work zones appears headed toward approval, but only after state lawmakers voted to exempt rescue workers en route to emergencies.
The exemption Tuesday was a compromise offered by some rural senators who said the proposal, backed by Gov. Martin O?Malley, invades motorists? privacy.
Current law exempts marked police and fire vehicles from speed limits but does not address the unmarked vehicles commonly used by volunteer fire crews in the state?s rural areas.
“You?re taking away police discretion and substituting automatic judgment unless you take a day off from work to go to court,” said Sen. Andy Harris, R-Baltimore and Harford counties.
“We can?t punish our volunteers.”
The proposal allows each jurisdiction to pass legislation authorizing speed cameras in work zones, a move supporters say will reduce the number of construction-zone fatalities, which has hovered around 15 per year since 2002.
The proposal sparked conversation about police officers in Montgomery County ? where speed cameras have been used for about two years ? who were caught speeding on camera while they were off-duty and refused to pay the fine.
About 148 citations issued to officers without an excuse were not paid, according to an Associated Press analysis.
Sen. Brian Frosh, D-Montgomery, who was floor leader for the bill, said those officers are now paying up.
He urged lawmakers to vote against the exemption and other proposed amendments that failed. These included exempting Eastern Shore counties, requiring counties to hold referendums on the issue and exempting highway work zones on bridges.
“Because there is no shoulder, they can?t enforce speed limits in their cars,” Frosh said.
“This is the only way to do it.”
A call for a five-year sunset provision also failed in the Senate, where a final vote could come Wednesday.
Similar legislation is pending in the House of Delegates.
