Drivers Beware: New Speed Cameras Target Six School Zones Across St. Mary’s County

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is launching a new School Zone Speed Camera Program aimed at improving safety for students, school staff and motorists by reducing speeding in active school zones.

The program, implemented in partnership with NovoaGlobal, is designed to encourage drivers to slow down and help prevent crashes in areas where children are traveling to and from school.

Drivers should be aware of the following implementation schedule:

• Aug. 21, 2026: A 15-day warning period begins. Motorists caught speeding in designated school zones will receive warning notices but will not be fined.
• Sept. 7, 2026: The warning period ends, and citations carrying monetary fines will begin being issued.

School zone speed cameras will be installed at the following locations:

• Mechanicsville Elementary School – southbound Route 5 (Three Notch Road)
• Loveville Elementary School/Banneker Elementary School – NB Rt. 5 (Three Notch Rd)
• Oakville Elementary School – northbound Route 235 (Three Notch Road)
• Greenview Knolls Elementary School –  NB Rt. 237 (Chancellor’s Run Rd)
• Great Mills High School – eastbound Route 246 (Great Mills Road)
• Spring Ridge Middle School – northbound Route 235 (Three Notch Road)

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the program has one primary goal: saving lives by slowing drivers down in school zones where children and pedestrians are most vulnerable.

The Sheriff’s Office is encouraging motorists to remain alert, obey posted speed limits and exercise extra caution when traveling through school zones.

More information about the School Zone Speed Camera Program is available on the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office website HERE.

Fines for School Zone Speeding

Maryland law requires a vehicle to be traveling at least 12 mph over the posted speed limit to trigger a violation. Violators will be subject to a $40 civil fine.

Implementation Timeline

To give motorists time to adjust their driving habits, the County is implementing a 15-day warning period:

• Warning Period: Begins August 21, 2026. During this period, drivers will receive a notice by mail marked “WARNING” with no monetary penalty.
• Full Activation: Begins September 7, 2026. Citations with fines will be issued for violations recorded on or after this date.

Year-Round Operation

Speed cameras operate year-round, including holidays and school breaks, Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., in accordance with Maryland law. Motorists are encouraged to remain attentive, obey posted speed limits, and drive safely whenever traveling through designated school zones.

The Need for Safety Enforcement

Traffic studies in St. Mary’s County show that physical signage and flashing beacons alone have not been enough to curb dangerous speeding on major corridors like Route 5 and Route 235 during school hours. By adopting Ordinance No. 2024-02, the County is taking a proactive approach to help ensure safety.

All potential violations are reviewed by an authorized employee of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office before a Notice of Violation is mailed. These are civil violations and will not result in points on a driver’s license or be reported to insurance companies.

A Commitment to Safety and Transparency

This safety initiative supports the County’s commitment to reducing preventable crashes. National data shows that speeding is a major factor in pedestrian fatalities, and reducing vehicle speeds in school zones significantly increases the likelihood of survival in the event of a collision.

“We want St. Mary’s to be a community where no life is lost to speeding, especially in our school zones,” said Sheriff Hall. “This program is a critical step toward that goal. We are committed to being transparent throughout this process and keeping our community informed as the program moves forward.”

The monitoring system captures photos and videos of vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit. Registered vehicle owners can review violation evidence online at www.zerofatality.com.

To promote transparency and keep the public informed, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office will regularly share accurate, up-to-date information about school zone speed camera locations and program updates on its official social media accounts on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Residents are encouraged to follow the Sheriff’s Office on these platforms for the latest and accurate information.

For more information about the School Zone Speed Camera Program, visit the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office website at www.firstsheriff.com/special-operations/school-zone-speed-camera-program.