(10/16) Thurmont’s Town Council was briefed at their October 13 meeting on the status of the Police Department's employment of a speed-surveillance camera, including revenue generated, numbers of citations issued including unpaid citations, and options for collection.

Police Sergeant David Armstrong noted that the program was initiated in September 2019 and that the number of drivers cited is probably significantly low, since COVID-19 closed the schools, thereby dramatically reducing the flow of vehicles on Main Street (which has apparently been the focus of the speed-surveillance operation).

Sergeant Armstrong stated that since the inception of the speed-surveillance effort up to present time, police have issued 393 citations, of which 317 have been paid. The number of fines paid to date total $12,680. If all of the citations that were issued would be paid, the amount would total $15,720, there being $3,040 unpaid fines still outstanding.

Some of the unpaid fines date back to October 2019. There are 40 citations that have gone unpaid for more than over 120 days since issuance.

A citation, issued if the speed a driver is traveling at a speed in excess of 12 mph over the speed-limit, is $40. The fine does not increase incrementally, relative to the difference of the driver's speed … over the posted speed limit. Sergeant Armstrong stated there were instances of drivers traveling 73 mph in a zone posted for 35 (one was caught doing 80 mph) - but the fine remained the same - $40.

Asked by Mayor John Kinnarid as to what recourse the police have to compel payment on the outstanding citations, Armstrong replied, "In Maryland, we can submit to the MVA (Motor Vehicle Administration) and request that their tags be flagged. That's one option we have. Another option is we can submit to a collection agency and let them attempt to collect the fines from it."

The enforcement process is non-judicial (does not go through the state judicial system), in that it is a civil fine sent to the owner of the vehicle. There is no motor vehicle record of the citation and no points are issued against a driver's license.

If the MVA flags a registration plate, the vehicle owner cannot renew the vehicle's registration until outstanding fines are paid.

The officer stated, as far as cost involved for using the cameras for speed-surveillance, when a speeding car activates the surveillance camera, a photograph is sent to Optotraffic, who then identifies the vehicle's registration plate and owner. There is a $12 charge for each look-up. Armstrong indicated that, given the revenue generated, the Optotraffic fee is very cost-effective.

All revenues generated by the usage of the use of the speed-surveillance camera must be used only for public safety.