[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6544491,"mediaKeyId","3645105-153db2bafe51bb683355136cbd661758","parentId",3645105,"title","College Park staff to draft updated municipal‑infraction fines after council work session on SB 820","audioSeconds",1750,"startMs",2532000,"endMs",4282000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3645105-153db2bafe51bb683355136cbd661758&start=2532&end=4282","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3645105-153db2bafe51bb683355136cbd661758/thumbnail_2532000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6544491/College-Park/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/College-Park-staff-to-draft-updated-municipalinfraction-fines-after-council-work-session-on-SB-820","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544491-e828bada42faa21405488461d7bd01a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159121&Signature=ew9gg0W-pzIr83o8-xF9fS2WkF0AYZIoV~u8ZXHhxMCQXw3H6BhQhl2v3Ac4efVvgtBxmjFXPTyig65qQlhshub-Wyo4E-U7NSpOZeODcNXNQ6yg3O2eNZR3gMyKaB2Bhb2xJXxPgrgsz6iKT~b4s6AfpJp8RUJHmlxehmpLMwpf0Jli35XY3PoSyxKmH8Ht0ff6Nlzy1vsUKZurEjSdKsPmxWB3rMi95ftBL6JSCUOyn9WOc3RaDymPR68sgkoyUqSixIXo3PXOVqyecy4p35gAIou10NZRNsgnoILNWHAZdUPppQcw5IBf49zwEN1gmq6h6lNR1lu9b7ouwW~6YQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","College Park, MD","date","2025-06-04T00:57:34.213Z","article","City staff and the College Park City Council held a work session June 3 to review the implications of Senate Bill 820, which raises the maximum for municipal infractions from $1,000 to $5,000. Council did not adopt any ordinance changes at the meeting but directed staff to prepare recommendations and engage the public before returning with proposed amendments.

Director of Public Services Jitinder Kocher told the council the bill — described in the meeting packet as “Senate Bill 820” — would authorize raising the city’s maximum penalties and that the law’s effective date is Oct. 1, 2025. Kocher reviewed code chapters where fines commonly apply, including building‑construction provisions, fire and life‑safety sections, and property maintenance and housing codes.

City Attorney Stephanie Anderson noted the statutory language raises the cap “up to” $5,000, which can allow tiered penalties rather than a single flat jump. She and Kocher told the council a final proposal would likely include graduated penalties tied to severity and repeat offenses.

Councilmembers urged staff to focus on problem areas and to consider community equity and enforcement impacts. Councilmember Mackey said fines should deter repeated, nuisance behavior while not unfairly punishing single mistakes. Councilmember Ray and others pressed for escalators for repeat offenders, especially for ongoing blight and vacant‑property issues. Councilmember Riggs suggested staff identify a manageable list of “egregious” code sections to update first rather than attempting an immediate overhaul of the entire penalty schedule.

City Manager Kenny Young said staff had followed council direction to take a “slow and steady approach” and recommended additional public meetings and coordination with code enforcement officers who implement penalties in the field. Kocher and Young indicated staff will consider examples used by neighboring jurisdictions and inspector feedback when drafting new fines.

Student liaison Nicholas de Spirito raised concerns about how elevated fines would affect low‑income renters and suggested staff consider directing penalties at landlords or building owners rather than tenants when violations reflect common‑area or landlord maintenance failures. Kocher and staff replied that landlords are generally held responsible for building‑level violations and that tenant liability occurs only in limited, case‑specific circumstances.

Council gave staff direction to return with a draft recommendation, to hold community outreach meetings (including options for district‑level meetings), and to consider whether a small council subcommittee should handle a deeper review. Staff said they will bring a follow‑up item to a future work session for further vetting and eventual ordinance changes to City Code chapter 110 (penalties and fines).

Ending: No ordinances were adopted at the session. Staff will draft concrete amendments and a public engagement plan and submit them for council consideration prior to the Oct. 1 statutory effective date.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Meeting June 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A June 3 work session reviewed Senate Bill 820, which raises maximum municipal fines to $5,000; council directed staff to return with recommendations, community outreach and proposed changes to penalty schedules.","taxTitle","College Park, Prince George's County, Maryland","taxId",53864,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6544496,"College Park council approves five automated stop‑sign monitoring locations",1174,1272000,2446000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3645105-153db2bafe51bb683355136cbd661758&start=1272&end=2446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3645105-153db2bafe51bb683355136cbd661758/thumbnail_1272000.jpg","/articles/6544496/College-Park/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/College-Park-council-approves-five-automated-stopsign-monitoring-locations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544496-a0d8aeacf98a7b63893c7c5a100672ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159121&Signature=MPVPRabbAYigcpTdcZaEiW5lUc7qmUBUrGsTkmZ06RD0LWMHOzbW1Qv5m1LXlO-rPr31nVg5hXTVneMv~SKW9iaZxZch5pZIdz6roqW-Y1Lbp5Tqo~7SH7PI7nA24OxaPrtqiX0flWLgDtpBXROLZq2UYwQXxHFRyqWYGwy3j9zSGpYmpzIWnzl5QGLW4Bx07f-Np24VOGKAMFmhSN4gXzf-~Cps7UvTJEv~5PzsfF5JxwAsevlajfu~Ys8xqETXoIXULD8uVi05TZgC2fYPsTG-oiW6A2AQrYCXIwE4uj9Eum6fXHWq6nrzOtUMmDB6H90jYo1cm7GP-v~SmbuSMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The College Park City Council on June 3 approved installation of five automated stop‑sign monitoring devices at intersections in school zones across the city.

The move responds to a pilot program and data review the city completed last year. Director of Public Services Jitinder Kocher told the council the city “had done a pilot program” and then vetted sites with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Committee, deployment feasibility criteria and “other mandatory requirements from the state law.”

Kocher said the city began with about 14–15 candidate locations, shortened that list to nine and then to five after applying the criteria. He told the council the ordinance enabling stop‑sign monitoring was introduced earlier this year, passed May 13 and has an effective date of June 3.

Councilmember Whitney moved the motion to approve the five sites; the motion listed the locations and associated school zones as read into the record: Edgewood Road at 50 Second Place (Hollywood Elementary School, District 1); College Avenue at Yale Avenue (University of Maryland/College Park Foundation, District 3); St. Andrew’s Place at Davidson Street (Cherokee Lane Elementary School, District 4); Rhode Island Avenue at Lakeland Road (Paint Branch Elementary School, District 2); and Calvert Road at Rhode Island Avenue (University of Maryland/College Park Foundation, District 3). The motion passed without recorded opposition.

Councilmembers and staff discussed how additional sites would be requested and approved. Kocher said future additions must meet the same data‑driven vetting and feasibility criteria; City Manager Kenny Young added the council had asked staff to take a “slow and steady approach” so the city can evaluate operating data before expanding locations. Councilmember Riggs said vendors typically finance capital costs and that site selection involves collaboration among the city, the vendor and county council members.

Kocher confirmed the next step after the council vote is to present the approved locations to the Prince George’s County Council for its review and approval. He also said the city is still finalizing operational details and vendor arrangements and that a contract will be returned to the council for approval when completed.

Councilmembers asked staff to prepare a public communications plan and to explore a brief grace period at rollout before fines are issued. Staff said they will provide a cost analysis and further details about adding sites if council directs expansion in the future.

How the devices will be paid for and the final contract terms were not decided at the meeting; Kocher and city staff said they expect the vendor to cover capital costs but will return a contract to the council for approval.

Votes at a glance: 25‑GS‑57 — Approved. Motion to install five stop‑sign monitoring devices at the school‑zone intersections listed above; no roll‑call tally recorded in the public minutes.

Ending: Staff said it will return to the council with final vendor and contract documents, a communications plan and any recommended procedures for adding additional monitoring locations.","The College Park City Council voted to approve installation of five stop‑sign monitoring devices at school‑zone intersections; staff said locations must next be approved by the Prince George’s County Council and the vendor will cover capital costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

College Park staff to draft updated municipal‑infraction fines after council work session on SB 820

College Park council approves five automated stop‑sign monitoring locations