By Tyler Ruth ’16

Olney, with a population of 34,000, has 12 speed cameras. Of all the 49 speed cameras in Montgomery County, Olney has more per capita than any other city. Of the top 10 most profitable cameras, three are located in Olney.

Comparatively, Bethesda has no speed cameras in the top 10 and Silver Spring has two in the top 10. The Greater Olney Civic Association (GOCA) is wondering why Olney, a small unincorporated city in the suburbs of D.C., not only has the most speed cameras, but also more profitable cameras than much larger cities located in Montgomery County.

The GOCA has been investigating the issue of speed cameras in Olney since mid-May. The group has conducted many reports and analyses and especially focused on one camera in Olney that has gained much notoriety. That is the camera in front of St. Peter’s Catholic School on Route 108. This camera specifically has generated more than $1.1 million in revenue, issued 27,000 citations, and is the most profitable in the county. The camera produced 20 percent more citations than Bethesda’s 10 speed cameras combined (Greater Olney Civic Association, 2015). The disproportionate share of revenue generated by this one camera has caused many residents in the area to attribute it to unfair placement of cameras by the county, according to a recent article by theNewspaper.com, a driving politics website.

The camera in front of St. Peter’s was placed there after the speed limit on Route 108 was lowered from 40 mph to 30 mph through that area. Note, the placement was after the lawfully required six months in which no speed cameras can be placed after a speed limit change. Many residents in the area believe that this is unfair because the speed limit changes in the same location where the cameras are located, so drivers must apply the brakes rapidly to avoid the ticket. But police explain that the cameras give a 12 mph cushion before a $40 ticket is issued, so if the driver is already going 12 mph over the speed limit, the individual deserves the ticket.

According to the GOCA, in comparison to its population, Olney has 5.7 times more speed cameras than similar cities in Maryland. Drivers in Olney are also 3.4 times more likely to be tracked by a speed camera. The county argues that the large number of cameras is for the safety of drivers, but when one out of 863 accidents in Olney are actually because of “excessive speed, that’s brought into question. Especially when the police department, the organization that decides where and how many cameras get placed, profit directly by the tickets.

Speed camera tickets make up 37 percent of the revenue generated by the Montgomery County Police Department. The ombudsman in charge of camera complaints also works for the police department. The GOCA argues that this practice is unfair as the ombudsman would not feel compelled to respond to any complaints because it would negatively affect the budget of the department that employs him. The GOCA argues that the ombudsman should be employed by an independent organization to ensure the fair practice and placement of cameras. In spite of such potential conflicts of interest, the GOCA has successfully negotiated the number of cameras in Olney down from 13 to 12 this previous summer.