WASHINGTON – The District generated nearly $85 million from speed cameras last year, but a new report shows the city has spent millions just to operate the cameras.
In the past three years, the District paid $52.7 million to the private speed camera contractor ACS State & Local Solutions to install, operate and maintain the city’s network of speed and red light cameras, according to a report by the D.C. Office of the Inspector General.
The inspector general report says the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles violated D.C. regulation by extending the firm’s contract and not opening a competitive bidding process.
The violation has cost taxpayers nearly $9 million in excess fees, the report says.
The cameras are expected to generate $100 million a year from speeding and traffic fines. On Nov. 5, the city reduced some speeding fines.
The fine for drivers traveling 11 to 15 mph over the speed limit dropped from $125 to $100, while fines for driving 1 to 10 mph over the speed limit were reduced from $75 to $50.
However, a fine of $250 for drivers traveling more than 25 mph over the speed limit was increased to $300.
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WTOP’s Mark Segraves contributed to this report. Follow @SegravesWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.
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