Police work to expand red light camera use

‘‘I think knowing they [the cameras] are out there helps slow people down,” Police Chief Kim C. Dine said. ‘‘...It is a very efficient system and less expensive than having officers stationed at every intersection.”

Violators are also issued a password to go online and view their video or review it at Frederick’s police station. They may also challenge the video evidence in court.

‘‘The program has been run in an exemplary manner, and we are always open to working with people to review the video,” Dine said.

Lt. Shawn Martyak oversaw the program until July, when he took over command of the department’s criminal investigation division. Acting Lt. Wade Brown, the current supervisor, was on vacation and unavailable for comment by The Gazette.

Martyak said the program has been successful in changing driver behavior either through violations or simply seeing the camera. Even Martyak admits that his driving behavior has changed after watching more than 10,000 video clips from the cameras.

‘‘It has made me more aware, and that is what we are trying to do with motorists,” he said. ‘‘...The more awareness, the more we can avoid collisions.”

The biggest violation is motorists taking a right on red without stopping. There are others, however, who simply speed through the light, and others who simply never see it turn red.

Jon Angel, Frederick’s budget director, said that in its first two full years in operation, the red light program has generated $936,496 for the city’s general fund. The city has anticipated $400,000 from the program for fiscal 2008, which began on July 1.

Martyak reiterated that the focus of the red light program is public safety and not the money it brings to the city. ‘‘This system truly works if we no longer generate revenue,” he said.

For the past year, police have been working to place a red light camera along the Golden Mile on U.S. Route 40. The police department and traffic engineers have been working with the State Highway Administration to install a camera at the intersection of Route 40 and Waverley Drive.

‘‘Any intersection of Route 40 is a good place to start,” Martyak said. ‘‘...With one camera, we believe we can change [the way people drive] the whole length of the roadway.”

Frederick’s traffic engineer Devon Hahn, said that the city is awaiting review by the State Highway Administration’s Office of Traffic and Safety on use of the camera on the state road with a decision expected late next month.

Cameras for speeders next?

In addition to adding to the city’s fleet of red light cameras, Dine said he and other law enforcement agencies have their eyes on the use of speed cameras in Montgomery County.

Last year, the county became the first in the state allowed to use cameras after lawmakers overrode a veto by former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich (R).

The program is in place in the cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville, and the Village of Chevy Chase.

The pilot program in Gaithersburg authorizes use in residential and school zones with speeds limits of 35 mph or less, and requires that money from fines collected go toward public safety programs.

Dine said he is monitoring any legislation that would allow other municipalities or counties to install the cameras.

‘‘I’m very interested and have conveyed that to the mayor and the Board of Aldermen,” he said. ‘‘...Even if [Frederick County] is not interested, the city could move forward with a program. ... [Speeding] is another major complaint we hear from residents.”

Martyak agreed that in locations such as residential, school and work zones, speed cameras can be an asset for the city.

‘‘There is no good reason for people to speed in these areas at any time and we do not have the areas to staff them at all times,” he said. ‘‘Too many tragedies occur in these areas.”

Caught ‘red’ handed

From May 2005, when the program began, though June, the Frederick Police Department’s red light camera program has resulted in 14,578 citations at the following locations:

*Rosemont Ave.⁄Montevue Ln.: 4,841

*Rosemont Ave. ⁄ Schley Ave.: 3,963

*Opossumtown Pike ⁄ Thomas Johnson Drive: 1,693

*E. Patrick St. ⁄ Monocacy Blv.: 1,664

*Motter Ave.⁄W. 7th St.: 1301

*E. 3rd St. ⁄ East St.: 649

*Willowdale Dr. ⁄ Key Pkwy.: 467

Source: Frederick Police Department