Baltimore County delegation backs bill to allow speed cameras on I-695 and I-83, sends measure to ENT

The Baltimore County delegation voted to refer House Bill 978, which would authorize speed monitoring systems on Interstate 695 and parts of Interstate 83 within Baltimore County, to the Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee with the subcommittee’s amendments in place.

The amendment approved by the delegation requires at least 30 days of warning before tickets are issued, sets a minimum of five miles between camera locations, and mandates conspicuous signage near camera locations. The amendment also includes an uncodified reporting requirement to the county delegation and the General Assembly; that reporting requirement was limited to three years during floor discussion.

The bill and amendments were presented to the delegation by Delegate Carden, chair of the subcommittee that reviewed the measure. “We consolidated, for all intents and purposes, almost all the amendments into one single amendment,” Carden said, summarizing the subcommittee’s work and reporting that the subcommittee voted favorably on the consolidated amendment and on the bill as amended.

Delegates discussed several implementation details before the final vote. Delegate Ross asked whether the required 30-day notification specifies a method of notice. Carden replied that the 30-day period applies to warnings that would be mailed or delivered in the same manner as violation notices, and that separate conspicuous signage near the camera — already required under existing state law — is also expected.

Delegate Shaliga asked about the duration of the reporting requirement; staff confirmed the amendment calls for three years of reporting to the delegation. Carden said the subcommittee had considered a longer reporting requirement but agreed three years was the compromise adopted in the amendment.

Delegates raised other concerns that were discussed but not adopted. One proposal would have required the State Highway Administration to adopt a public-feedback process allowing residents to report camera placements that degrade traffic flow; that amendment was defeated. Another amendment, offered by Delegate Long and aimed at locking the civil penalty at $40 and prohibiting late fees or processing fees, failed to receive a majority on the delegation floor.

On the delegation’s roll call for the motion to report the bill favorably to Environment and Transportation with the adopted amendment, the chair announced 13 votes in favor and 5 opposed, a majority needed to move the measure forward. The motion was recorded as favorable and the delegation agreed to file the bill as a county delegation measure.

The delegation’s final action preserves several constraints and reporting requirements but leaves implementation details to the State Highway Administration and the next committee stage. The bill as amended will proceed to the House Environment and Transportation Committee for further consideration.