Salisbury Records Show Calibration Lapses

The Maryland Drivers Alliance had been trying for months to obtain copies of annual calibration certificates and daily setup logs from Salisbury, after the city claimed that all records were in the hands of their contractor.  Now, the Washington Times reports that they have obtained some of the same records we had been seeking, and sure enough the documents do have some problems.

WTOP News: Speed camera accuracy questioned in Morningside, Maryland

MORNINGSIDE, Md. - A WTOP Ticketbuster investigation has uncovered serious questions about the accuracy of a speed camera on Suitland Road in Morningside, Md

For the entire story, see:

http://www.wtop.com/1319/3512254/Speed-camera-glitch-captured-on-videos

From the story:

Todd Pounds, Morningside's town attorney, declined to be interviewed for this story, although he did speak to WTOP on the phone and email. He tells WTOP that the cameras are accurate and comply with Maryland law, but wouldn't comment on the videos themselves. WTOP asked Pounds to produce annual calibration and daily self- test records for the Suitland Road camera to substantiate his claims, but he refused to do so.

 

 

MaCo Hosts Speed Camera Love Fest

The Maryland Association of Counties (MaCo) will be holding a speed camera symposium on December 4th, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the Kenhill Center (Old Bowie City Hall: 2614 Kenhill Drive, Bowie, Maryland, 20715).

The agenda for this meeting will include Requirements for a Speed Camera Program, Partnerships, Vendor Contracts, Policies and Procedures, program results, Current Law, and Proposed Changes in 2014.

Speed Camera Company Misses SEC Filing Deadine

Speed Camera Contractor Brekford Corp announced on November 14th that they would not meet the deadline for filing their Q-10 quarterly results report with the SEC.

The notification of late filing form (FORM 12b-25) stated:

The Registrant anticipates that its consolidated statements of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 to be included in the Quarter Report will reflect: (i) a net loss of approximately $568,492 for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to a net loss of approximately $50,948 for the corresponding period of 2012; (ii) a net loss of approximately $968,960 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to net income of approximately $198,895 for the corresponding period of 2012; and (iii) basic and diluted net loss per common share of $0.01 and $0.02 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.00 and $0.00 for the corresponding periods of 2012.  The reduction in net income for the 2013 periods when compared to the 2012 periods resulted primarily from increased expenses related to salaries, benefit programs and associated support costs for the expansion of ATSE without corresponding increases in revenue as certain program implementations were delayed.  Increased depreciation expense associated with newly installed technology infrastructure and camera equipment also contributed to the loss.

Baltimore City Issued 1.5Million Camera Tickets As Accident Rates Rose

A report by the Baltimore Sun showed that Baltimore City experienced an almost 5% increase in traffic accidents from 2009 to 2012. In that four year time period Baltimore City put approximately 50 speed cameras online and issued 1.5 million speed camera tickets.

Baltimore's first speed cameras went online in November of 2009. However most of the city's cameras did not go online until months, and 2010 was the first full year with speed cameras.

The city defended the program's results by asserting that traffic accidents dropped at six intersections where cameras were used.  That data came from only a small fraction of the city's cameras, and was compiled in late 2012 when the city's program was coming under increasing fire over erroneous citations and many other complaints.  No data from 2012 was provided.  It is unclear why "intersections" were the basis of the city's collision analysis when the cameras involved were speed cameras rather than red light cameras and thus are not necessarily enforcing just in "intersections".

Baltimore's program was shut down in early 2013 after hundreds of erroneous citations were sent out to innocent drivers.

Montgomery County Council Examines Converting Car Lanes To Bus Routes

The Montgomery County council has been working on a proposal to "repurpose" lanes away from cars to support a new $3billion 'rapid transit' bus system.

Is Parking on a Bike Path Legal?

While it is doubtful that parking on a bike path would be allowed for the peasant folk, Montgomery County's speed camera maintenance vans are apparently "special".

This photo was taken of a camera located on Travillah road just before 9am on 11/11//2013. ( The photographer was parked and was not obstructing any traffic at the time). Since this vehicle does not have "local government" plates, it would not appear to be an actual government registered "law enforcement vehicle".

After this photo was taken, this camera which only photographs speeding cars proceeded to "flash" the photographer as soon as he pulled back onto the road, while he was still traveling at least 5mph below the posted speed limit.

The Maryland Drivers Alliance would love to see any photos our readers might acquire of speed camera vans "being special".  Just use Our Contact Form to reach us.

WUSA9 Investigations: Speedcam loophole & unpublished Montgomery Co. camera sites

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- A WUSA9 investigation casts new doubt on Montgomery County's speed camera program, a system that racks up millions in revenue, because there is no evidence some sites were ever published.

Entire article and video at:

http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/281439/158/WUSA9-Probe-Montgomery-Co-speed-cams-legal

Court Rejects Optotraffic Lawsuit in Ohio

Maryland based speed camera company Optotraffic continues running into difficulties expanding their business into other states, as an article in TheNewspaper.com reports that a court in Ohio has rejected a complaint filed by the speed camera company against a local government.

MDA Exclusive: Brekford representative to travel to Salisbury tomorrow to hand over documents

A source at Salisbury's speed camera vendor, Brekford Corporation, has informed the MDA that a Brekford representative will be meeting with Col. Barclay on Friday, November 8, to deliver "a very large packet" of speed camera calibration certificates.   Col. Barclay manages Salisbury's speed camera program. 

State law requires that the calibration certificates be maintained in the files of each jurisdiction that operates speed cameras. 

The MDA requested calibration certificates from Salisbury five months ago, but the city did not fulfill the request.  Another request was submitted two months ago.  The city has continued to disregard the requests for calibration certificates even after numerous calls and emails to Mayor James Ireton, Council President Jacob Day, the city clerk, City Attorney Mark Tilghman and other city officials.

The Brekford representative also stated that Salisbury will be posting the calibration certificates on the city's website on November 8.