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City to renew school‑zone speed camera contract; staff says program remains cost neutral and expansion options discussed
Summary
Police and staff asked the council to approve renewal of the city's automated speed camera contract under a piggyback agreement; staff said the program has been self‑funding and that expansion outside school zones will be considered under separate legislation.
Police and city staff presented a request to renew the city's contract for automated speed cameras at the July 15 work session and discussed the program's operations and possible expansion.
Staff said the city currently operates a school‑zone speed camera program and that the vendor contract being considered is a piggyback off Calvert County's procurement. Police said the cameras operate during school hours and that the program has been cost neutral to the city because violators fund the system rather than the general fund.
Why it matters: staff said the cameras support safety in school zones and that the city has issued about 25,000 camera notices per year across its cameras over the past four years. The police presentation also noted the contract contains a price change but includes a vendor guarantee that the program will remain cost neutral to the city.
Expansion and legislation: police representatives said they will discuss a separate legislative item in August to permit placement of automatic speed enforcement in high‑traffic, high‑violation corridors (for example, Potomac Avenue and Virginia Avenue), similar to authorizations in some larger Maryland jurisdictions. That expansion would be a separate council decision.
Decision and next steps: the staff presentation requested approval to renew the contract; the renewal was described as a one‑year contract with additional renewal options. Council did not take a formal vote at the work session; staff will place the renewal on the council agenda for action.
Speakers: Captain Tom Langston and Officer Tim Cole presented the program details and answered council questions.
