Speed cameras across Maryland brought in nearly $64 million in revenue during the 2018 fiscal year — With Montgomery County speeders paying out nearly a quarter of that haul.
Montgomery County speed cameras generated $15.9 million in revenue, followed by the City of Baltimore with $9.6 million and Prince George's with $6.8 million, according to a review by AAA Mid-Atlantic.
Smaller cities including College Park, Gaithersburg, Laurel, Rockville and Takoma Park also broke the million-dollar mark.
Here's the full list of the most-lucrative speed camera jurisdictions, according to AAA:
- Montgomery County — $15.9 million
- City of Baltimore — $9.6 million
- Prince George’s Co. — $6.8 million
- Baltimore County — $5.6 million
- College Park — $2.7 million
- Gaithersburg — $2.1 million
- Rockville — $1.8 million
- Laurel — $1.4 million
- Charles County — $1.4 million
- Salisbury — $1.3 million
- Takoma Park — $1.2 million
- Howard County — $1.1 million
More than 1.5 million drivers in Maryland were caught speeding in fiscal year 2018, with tickets and fines going out to those going 12 mph or more over the speed limit in school zones, near the University of Maryland Campus and in some Montgomery County areas.
"Speedy violators must pay a $40 fine for each infraction caught on speed camera and in many cases it is enough to modify bad driving habits or to compel some motorists to drive with a halo around their heads when they are within range of a speed camera,” said AAA spokesman John B. Townsend II.
Motorists have the option to fight their tickets in court. AAA reports that some jurisdictions are turning to collections agencies to get millions in overdue fines.
Nearly a third of tickets were doled out to drivers going one mile per hour over the threshold that triggers a speed camera, according to AAA's research.
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There are 45 jurisdictions in Maryland with speed cameras, AAA says.
