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Montgomery County staff brief council on crosswalk-monitoring pilot expanded to 30 sites
Summary
County staff described HBE 1086 (formerly MC 10-26), a delegation-amended crosswalk monitoring pilot broadened to permit up to 30 county-operated sites for five years; council signaled support while asking staff to clarify municipal opt-in and technical language before the March 12 committee hearing.
County staff on Thursday briefed the Montgomery County Council on HBE 1086 (originally MC 10-26), a bill authorizing crosswalk monitoring systems intended to improve safety in school areas. Sarah Morningstar of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations said the delegation heavily amended the measure to broaden its scope beyond designated school corridors.
Wade Hamm, a county business coordinator, told the council the amended bill would allow countywide placement but cap active sites at 30 and run a five-year pilot. Hamm said the bill, as amended, appears to limit operation to the county government and that municipalities that operate their own police departments – such as Gaithersburg and Rockville – may need separate provisions to opt in. He also noted an amendment changing the fine structure and that the bill will be heard in the Environment and Transportation Committee on March 12.
Council members and staff discussed the county executive's position; Morningstar said the executive supported expanding the pilot countywide when the bill was first filed. Council members agreed on the bill's intent but asked staff and legal counsel to identify operational and municipal coordination issues for the delegation to address. The council indicated it would express support while negotiations continue and asked staff to return with clarified language before the committee hearing.
The briefing closed with the president moving the agenda forward without objection; staff said further adjustments could be made at the delegation's and committee levels before any final action.
