Saturday, January 19, 2013
Catch up on headlines this week from across Montgomery County.
A 130-year-old local grocery chain is closing up shop; a North Potomac resident nicknamed "The Turbanator" advances to the next round of American Idol; and Montgomery County councilmembers pledge to increase police presence in schools. These are just a few of the stories Patch reported this week. Get caught up on top headlines here. Magruder's Closing All Locations GAITHERSBURG—Magruder's is closing all four of its supermarkets, including Montgomery County's Gaithersburg and Rockville locations, but they may re-open under new ownership in the future. Read more on Gaithersburg Patch. Man Guilty of Running Prostitution Ring from Rockville Pike Hotel ROCKVILLE—He’s been dubbed “The Pimp on the Pike.” Now, Nahshon Kornegay, 31, of District …
Monday, December 17, 2012
State Delegate Jon Cardin seeks to root out bogus citations.
A state delegate from Baltimore County says public confidence in speed cameras has deteriorated to the point that a state audit and possible reboot are needed. Del. Jon Cardin said Monday he plans to sponsor a bill calling for an audit of state and local speed camera tickets with an eye on rooting out bogus citations. "Maybe it's time to go back to the drawing board," Cardin said. The Baltimore County Democrat said he is in the process of drawing up a bill that would create an audit due to legislators by October 2013. Instances of bogus tickets issued to drivers would result in a $1,000 per incident penalty, though it is not clear if the jurisdiction or the speed camera vendor would be responsible for the fine, Cardin said. "I'm not trying…
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Montgomery County Police spokesman answers questions submitted by Patch readers.
This week, Lucille Baur of the Montgomery County Police Department takes on questions from Patch readers. Patch Reader Question: How many people were, in 2011, charged with violating the state's wiretapping laws for photographing or videotaping police officers? Baur: We are not aware of any such charges in 2011. Please note that wiretapping laws do not apply to photography or videotaping without sound. Officers know that they may be photographed or videotaped by anyone as they are in the course of conducting their regular duties. The wiretapping laws protect a conversation when there is a reasonable expectation of privacy such as during a phone call. No one is allowed to record a verbal conversation without the permission of all of the …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Montgomery County Police spokesman answers questions submitted by Patch readers— including those about privately installed speed cameras, when to stop for pedestrians and court fines.
This week, Capt. Paul Starks of the Montgomery County Police Department takes on questions from Patch readers about speed camera installations, cops and photography and court fines. Reader Question: Since the speed cameras are operated by a private company for their own profit and the county's profit, can a private person or homeowner put one in the neighborhood? Starks: No. R: Do we have to bid to get one? S: No. R: If it's about safety, as we hear so often, why not [put a speeding camera] where speeding is occurring? S: We do that. R: How about canvassing neighborhoods to find out if one is necessary? S: That is not a part of the process or the law. To learn more about the automated Traffic Enforcement Unit, please go to www.…
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Even after 14 years and hundreds of installed cameras, the debate over automated traffic enforcement continues.
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Thursday, December 15, 2011
By Jessica Talson, Capital News Service In the 14 years since the Maryland legislature approved red light cameras, about 200 of the ticket-issuing machines have been installed in the state, according to a database compiled by AAA Mid-Atlantic. That doesn't include speed cameras, which are numerous in Maryland, but for which there is no comprehensive database. "[The cameras] are effective because they scare people," said Amanda Clark, 29, who has received four red light camera tickets and a speed camera ticket within the last five years. "People don't want to get hit with a [$40] ticket every day. But sometimes they're placed in the wrong places, like where people don't know the speed limit or if the speed limit changes drastically. But I …
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The money from speed cameras is used for extra police officers, investigators and equipment to solve crimes.
Cities and counties across Maryland are reaping the benefits of revenue from speed cameras, with the money going toward video cameras in police cars, longer police station operating hours and matching funds for federal public safety grants, among other projects. Montgomery County, for example, which was the first county in the state to install speed cameras in select residential streets and school zones in 2007, estimated that it would receive more than $13 million in net revenue from fines for fiscal year 2010. That money would be divided between the fire department, the police department and pedestrian safety projects. The county estimated it would receive about $30 million total, with the balance going to the speed camera vendor. As …
Joe Simcox
3:13 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Speed traps are speed traps. There's no dif if you have the old timey sheriff hiding behind a billboard or a camera? Don't mind in School zones or like but 4 lane highways?? Robin Ficker won a case in M.C. Dist Ct - Judge Moffett ruled where the camera was not w/in 300 feet of a residence it was not properly placed by State law. Suggest everyone file an appeal based on this ruling! Fight back … more ›