WASHINGTON – Baltimore has temporarily suspended its troubled speed and red- light program following reports of erroneous citations.
Officials blame the suspension on “complications” that arose while switching vendors.
Baltimore’s Department of Transportation made the announcement in a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying that two “clerical mistakes” had been made.
“The Department of Transportation finds these mistakes unacceptable and is working diligently to maximize program accuracy,” says Frank Murphy, acting director of the Department of Transportation.
“We want to ensure that the program continues to improve traffic safety in Baltimore.”
Murphy says at least one camera was incorrectly coded. Drivers traveling 37 mph received tickets when the threshold was supposed to be 42 mph.
Another recently installed camera reportedly issued tickets to drivers for exceeding a 25 mph speed limit, but the posted speed limit was 30 along The Alameda.
The city recently revamped its program, spending more than $2 million to replace all 83 speed cameras.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said she wanted a “zero error program.”
Camera-based policing can be a major money maker for cities.
In D.C. last year, speed and red light cameras generated more than $80 million.
