Ted Giovanis, a resident of Highland in Howard County, called speed-monitoring cameras “a revenue generator” relying on faulty technology.
Mark McPherson, of Ellicott City, told state lawmakers citations based on cameras recording cars assume a driver?s guilt.
Other residents and members of Howard?s state delegation also raised concerns at a hearing on a measure that would allow Howard to use cameras to enforce speed limits.
The legislation, backed by Sen. James Robey, D-District 13, would be introduced during the General Assembly session and make Howard the second county in the state to use speed-enforcement cameras.
Speed cameras would be posted on streets with a maximum speed limit of 45 mph and could result in a $75 fine.
“Once we start down this road, a lot of people have said we?ll have a camera on every block,” Delegate Frank Turner, D-District 13, said at Thursday night?s hearing.
Sen. Allan Kittleman, R-District 9, said before he could support the program, he needed more specifics, such as how many cameras would be used and which intersections would be monitored.
“I know there are concerns about [speed cameras?] use,” Howard Police Chief William McMahon told the delegation. “We?ll develop a program that?s well-thought out.”
Since 2002, 104 fatal crashes have occurred in Howard, about half of them involving excessive speed, he said.
Two Mount Airy residents, Donna and Mike Stecker, testified in favor of the measure.
“We should follow our neighbors in Montgomery County,” Mike Stecker said.
In May, Montgomery police began handing out $40 fines to drivers cameras caught speedingin areas with speed limits of 35 mph or less.
