WASHINGTON – Drivers who get caught by speed cameras in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are more likely to get caught speeding again than drivers in D.C., according to data reviewed by Channel 4.
D.C. issued 1,018,959 speed camera tickets in fiscal year 2012, and 35,192 (7.8 percent of all tickets) vehicles were issued more than one ticket in that time, reports Channel 4.
In the same time period, Montgomery County issued 330,303 speed camera tickets and 50,965 (15.43 percent of all tickets) vehicles were caught more than once, and Prince George’s County issued 439,335 speed camera tickets, and 9,1035 (2.07 percent of all tickets) vehicles were caught more than once.
The data suggests that the District’s speed camera program does a better job of deterring speeders than the programs in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. The highest fine for being caught by a speed camera in Maryland is $40, while the highest fine in D.C. is $300.
Critics point out the difference has more to do with people’s driving patterns than the fines.
“The offender is most likely a person who lives in the neighborhood drives those same streets every day and is repeating the same offense,” John Townsend of AAA Mid-Atlantic tells Channel 4.
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