(1/25) After hearing complaints from concerned citizens about speeding in the City’s school zones, the City Council began the process of determining the best way to prevent excessive speed. January’s Council meeting discussed one way, which is to install speed cameras to catch violators and automatically generate and deliver tickets. Doing so allows the City to have extra enforcement capabilities without having to hire additional personnel. The City does already utilize a decoy police car to deter speeding.
There are two areas that were "tested" in October to see if a speed camera would be useful: Trevanion Road close to Taneytown Elementary School and Northwest Middle School and the Baumgardner and East Baltimore Street intersection on the opposite side of the schools. After testing, it was determined that the Baumgardner and East Baltimore Street intersection did not see enough speed violations to make a speed camera a worthwhile endeavor. Trevanion, however, saw "277 cars going 12 mph over the posted limit," according to Mayor Christopher Miller, a supporter of the project.
Mike Phelan, the director of strategic accounts for Altumint, a provider of AI-enabled traffic technology, presented to the Council an overview of what they can do for speeding enforcement in Taneytown. Located a little more than an hour away, the company utilizes speed cameras and red-light technology to catch speed violators and distribute tickets.
There are two ways to mount the speed cameras: on a pole or with a trailer system. The Council debated the pros and cons of both options, deciding that a pole mounted camera would best suit the location. Altumint would be responsible for the equipment during its service. By choosing a local company, any repairs or replacements could be easily performed. According to Phelan, most speed cameras are in service Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, including holidays. However, this schedule can be altered to whatever the Council deems appropriate.
Phelan assured the Council that the services provided by Altumint are 100% violator funded with no upfront cost to install. "You will never have to pay out of pocket," he said. He also said any permits required by the State Highway Administration would be the responsibility of Altumint. State law limits the max speed threshold to 12mph, meaning if the speed limit is 25 mph, a vehicle must be going 37 mph in order to be ticketed. The State also sets the ticket violation at $40.
Along with the physical cameras detecting speed, Altumint uses a program that can be accessed by the Chief of Police and other City officials allowing them to run reports, reject or approve violations and receive payments. The cameras take pictures and a short video of the violation. The Chief of Police will then need to log into the Altumint program and approve or deny the violation. If approved, the information is forwarded to the MVA where the registered owner of the vehicle’s information is obtained and a ticket is sent. The owner can either pay the ticket or go to court. If nothing is done, a delinquent notice is then sent.
Mayor Pro Tem James McCarron has a long history of opposition to the use of speed cameras to aid in controlling speeding. At previous meetings, he argued the numbers received in preliminary inspections of the chosen location were not high enough to warrant using speed cameras. Miller countered by reminding the Council, "that section of Trevanion isn’t fully side walked and kids walk up and down that road."
From the contract signing to the final installation of the equipment it should take about five months, according to Phelan. However, before Altumint can do anything for the City, the Council must pass legislation allowing red-light speed camera technology to be used in a school zone.
The Council voted 3 to 1, with McCarron against, to begin writing an Ordinance allowing the use of speed cameras in a school zone. According to City Manager Jim Wieprecht it will take time to get the ordinance in full effect. Once that is achieved, a contract with a chosen vendor must be written and approved before any real work begins.
