Greenbelt authorizes automated stop-sign enforcement and designates school zones

The Greenbelt City Council passed an ordinance and a companion resolution enabling automated stop-sign monitoring systems within school zones on municipal roads and formally designating the city’s school zones required under Maryland law.

Councilmember Pope introduced the ordinance to amend Chapter 11 of the city code to authorize stop-sign monitoring systems and to set procedures for signage, public notice, civil enforcement and penalties. The council then approved a resolution that designates specific school zones and starts the statutorily required process under the Annotated Code of Maryland, Transportation Article §21-805.1.

Police and planning staff told council the ordinance is an enabling step: after passage staff will collect updated traffic data, select specific intersections within the school zones, hold a public hearing on the selected sites, and seek county council approval before any cameras are installed or operated. Chief and traffic staff emphasized the program is intended to change driver behavior and improve pedestrian safety near schools. “Across our study locations compliance was about 20 percent; we selected sites near schools and heavy pedestrian areas,” a staff presenter said.

Councilmembers and residents debated camera-based enforcement versus other traffic-calming measures. Several councilmembers asked staff to re-evaluate intersections where flashing stop signs were recently installed to determine whether the flashers alone are improving compliance before adding cameras. Staff said they will present site-by-site data and vendor contract proposals back to council and that multiple administrative steps remain before tickets could be issued.

The council approved both the ordinance and the resolution by voice and roll-call votes; staff said the state and county will need to sign off on designated zones before any enforcement devices operate.