(12/13) Drivers in Emmitsburg are encouraged to use extra caution if they don’t want an unwelcome ticket starting this season. A grant for three license plate readers was awarded to the town in December from the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention in the amount of $98,000, according to Emmitsburg Town Mayor Don Briggs.

The topic of town speed traps has been discussed repeatedly, most recently at its August meeting.

Noting that downtown Emmitsburg continues to grow into a hub of activity, Commissioner Burns brought up the possibility of speed enforcement cameras, "to alleviate some of the speeding issues coming through town," he said. Burns, who had been collaborating with the school officials for information about speed traps, said, because of "two schools easily accessible to Main Street and South Seton Avenue," both of which are state highways.

"The safety of the community should come first," Burns said. Although cameras are an earnest tool to quell speeders, it is not as simple as taking a picture of a speeding car, Deputy Jason Ahalt said, citing his previous experience with speed cameras.

Speed cameras are a multistep process that require certified officers to review footage and sign off on the alleged speeding vehicle before a notice is sent out to the individual involved. Most of the fees acquired from speeders would then go back into the town.

According to the State Highway Administration, speed cameras can only be placed in a school or work zone; school zones, by definition, are designated as a one-half-mile radius around a school. The primary goal of utilizing the speed cameras is ultimately to ensure the safety of the children, residents, and visitors to the area.

Commissioner Frank Davis said he had been in contact with the Thurmont Police Department about their use of speed traps – saying that the equipment lease is based on the number of fines. The equipment leasing company is responsible for acquiring the certifications, and in addition to the police department, also receives a "percentage of the fines."

"It’s really not about making a lot of money," said Davis, "Thurmont makes maybe six-seven hundred dollars a month – but, it has helped to make it a safer area. We have a lot of travel traffic, especially during ski season. We’re obviously going to be in need of support of anything that makes the town safer. The only problem I see with them is that people memorize where the cameras are," but added that, "Strategically placed moveable cameras could be an asset to quelling speeders."