LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on June 24 to approve the establishment of an automated speed photo enforcement program aimed at reducing speeding and improving safety in school zones countywide.
The approved program awards a three-year contract to NovoaGlobal Inc., which will provide both portable and fixed speed cameras for targeted enforcement in school zones. The move follows months of study, legal groundwork and public discussion initiated by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, culminating in the passage of Ordinance 2024-02 last year, which created the legal framework for school zone speed cameras within a half-mile radius of schools serving grades K-12.
During the commissioners’ meeting, Capt. Richard Russell of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office presented the need for the program, citing persistent speeding issues in school zones that traditional enforcement struggles to address. “It’s a tool to reduce speed, reduce accidents and save lives,” Russell told commissioners. He added that high traffic volumes, officer safety concerns and calls for other matters limit the ability to conduct stops during busy school hours.
Debbie Traynor, business development manager with NovoaGlobal Inc., highlighted expected outcomes from similar programs implemented in other jurisdictions, stating, “You should definitely see a 50% reduction in violations, usually in about the first six months.” Her estimate aligns with findings presented in the county’s earlier speed studies, which recorded thousands of enforceable violations across local school zones in just a few days of monitoring.
According to the Department of Public Works and Transportation’s speed study, several school zones saw particularly high numbers of speeding violations during the early 2024 surveys. Mechanicsville Elementary School recorded more than 18,500 violations across its northbound and southbound lanes, while Oakville Elementary logged more than 6,500 violations. St. John’s School also stood out, with over 6,100 combined violations on its northbound and southbound approaches, and Benjamin Banneker Elementary saw more than 3,300 violations. All these speeding violations were discovered in just four days of monitoring in each zone.
The program will cost approximately $670,165 annually, requiring issuance of about 16,750 citations per year to cover expenses. However, officials stressed that the primary goal is deterrence, not revenue.
The cameras will only operate during school days from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., as required by state law. Drivers exceeding the speed limit by 12 mph or more in a posted school zone will receive a civil citation with a $40 fine. These civil violations will not carry points against drivers’ licenses, but unpaid fines could result in registration holds.
St. Mary’s County Sheriff Steven Hall expressed strong support for the initiative, noting the challenges deputies face in enforcing speed limits in congested school areas. “Traffic is the number one concern in the county,” Hall said, adding that automated enforcement provides an effective way to change driver behavior and protect children near schools.
Before cameras are activated, the county must provide at least 15 days of public notice and erect clear signage warning motorists, as stipulated in the ordinance. The sheriff’s office will also conduct community outreach and education campaigns about the program’s purpose and operations.
Commissioners emphasized the program’s limited scope, stressing that it is restricted solely to school zones and not intended for general countywide surveillance. St. Mary’s County commissioners supported final approval, acknowledging increasing public concerns about preventable accidents and speeding, especially near schools.
The program is expected to begin soon, issuing citations once equipment is installed, following additional site-specific speed studies and permitting, officials said.
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A four hundred dollar fine would make more sense. Speeding is out of control in this county. Tailgating is endemic. Witness the unending list of serious accidents on nixle every day. Drivers are increasingly irresponsible. It’s a free-for-all our there.
16,750 citations sounds like a LOT of citations, annually…just to cover operating costs.
“However, officials stressed that the primary goal is deterrence, not revenue.”
Maybe if parents were not dropping off/ picking up their kids INDIVIDUALLY, traffic near the schools would be more manageable?
Are there currently many accidents near the schools? I’m not seeing them reported in the media.
Why is it that only St. Mary’s school zones are being afforded these speed cameras. There are MANY, MANY areas in St. Mary’s where speed cameras have been warranted for years, yet, county leadership has done nothing. Wildewood is one of the worst residential areas in this county, aside from the Route 235 speedway. Maybe the Baynet could ask the county commissioners, Sheriff’s Department, and State Police to release the records of how many traffic citations have been handed out in Wildewood over the past 5 years. And yet, the 30MPH speed limit is being ignored, with the average speed limit is probably between 40-45MPH, with many vehicles, private, commercial, and yes, school buses, exceeding those speeds, every single day, morning, noon, and night. And the 25MPH residential side streets are a joke. The same vehicles are flying down these streets. And yet, the county just ignores the complaints. Why? Why do some neighborhoods in this county get the royal treatment, but they are afraid to address the issue in Wildewood?
Got any stats on the number of kids hit by cars near schools? Or close calls? Or is this just a revenue stream for the county masked by “save the children”? Charles County did the same thing years ago, putting cameras anywhere near a school on roads that kids don’t ever cross.
DRC I completely agree!..smh
Why do the cameras go till 8pm? The speed limits for schools are only for school hours? The speed limit signs even specify when blinking speed is… or reduce speed during these hours. Why would I reduce my speed if busses or schools are not operating?
Good. Red light camera should be next
There is absolutely no way this is accurate. With access to all the media, online sites and FB we see these accidents posted right when they happen. I couldn’t tell you the last time there has been one in a school zone. This is definitely a money grab. If there’s an accident in a school zone I guarantee you that it’s from distracted driving and not from speed.
I hope they use then on the roads with frequent accidents. Great Mills, 235, St. ANDREWS ETC. I also suggest fines be imposed immediately and not be forgiven. We need proactive enforcement that really penalize drivers!
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So these are gonna go up all over 235 right?
Revenue generation, that is all this is.
This will not change people’s bad driving at all.
They should put one in Morganza on the route 5 route 242 intersection. People fly down the hill in both directions. Speed limit is 30 MPH and drivers often come down those hills well over the speed limit. Student drivers coming from Chopticon are pulling out on to 5 from 242 and these speedsters don’t seem to care. Someone is going to get seriously hurt on that intersection. Drivers are becoming less and less courteous and more and more aggressive.
Maybe we just need to hire, train and equip 20 new deputies to do nothing but enforce traffic laws. I’ll bet that the speed cameras are more cost effective and the speeders get to pay and not the law-abiding citizens.
The traffic coming off the base in the evenings is getting dangerous.
Vehicles are going 60 -70 mph in a 40 mph road. There are many roads entrances on curves on Pegg rd.
That is why the speed limit is 40mph.
Many times I tried pulling out of Gloucester ct to make a left on Pegg rd. I look and it is clear. Before I get a 1/4 way on Pegg rd. I have a vehicle barring down on me. I at times floored it to pull out onto Pegg rd. To still have a vehicle barring down on me. Someone is going to get killed.
A speed camera near Pegg Lane will stop this.