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Sheriff urges Allegany County to revisit ban on speed cameras, cites Route 51 dangers
Summary
Sheriff Robertson asked commissioners to consider reversing a local ban on speed-camera enforcement and pursue legislation to permit cameras off school zones, citing safety concerns and difficulty making safe traffic stops on Route 51.
Sheriff Robertson told Allegany County commissioners he wants the county to reconsider its ban on traffic-photo enforcement and to pursue legislative changes that would allow speed cameras in non–school-zone locations such as Route 51.
“Route 51 does not have a school down there that falls at,” Robertson said when describing the limits of existing photo-enforcement law. He told commissioners he directs deputies not to attempt traffic stops in many places on Route 51 because there are “very few locations that a traffic stop can be safely initiated, without jeopardizing the life of one of the officers.”
The sheriff said he has discussed the idea with Senator McKay and county delegates and cited examples in Maryland where state law permits off-site camera placement outside of school zones. Robertson told the commission residents along Route 51 have offered private-property locations for camera placement to address enforcement logistics.
County staff and the sheriff said the county’s existing local restriction is Code Home Rule Bill 2-19, "an act to prohibit the use of traffic law photo monitoring devices," which took effect in October 2019. Staff said repealing or amending that bill would require county legislation and could not occur until the commissioners introduce and pass new legislation on a legislative day.
Robertson outlined technical and enforcement considerations: modern camera systems can help determine vehicle size (which matters for truck-speed enforcement) but are imperfect when distinguishing pickups hauling large trailers; each alleged offense is reviewed by an officer before enforcement action. He also said cameras can aid criminal investigations by providing short-term license-plate data.
Staff noted MDOT engineers and Senator McKay have discussed whether legislation could enable non–school-zone camera use, but funding, vendor-revenue sharing and state approvals would need further work.
No county legislation to change local code was introduced at the work session; commissioners thanked the sheriff for the presentation and said they would consider the request.
