Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

SB 888
                       Department of Legislative Services
                            Maryland General Assembly
                                  2021 Session
                          FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
                               Enrolled - Revised
Senate Bill 888               (Senator Beidle)
Judicial Proceedings                                   Environment and Transportation
      Anne Arundel County - Speed Monitoring Systems - Maryland Route 175
                                 (Jessup Road)
This bill authorizes the placement of speed monitoring systems (speed cameras) in
Anne Arundel County on Maryland Route 175 (Jessup Road) between the Maryland
Route 175/295 interchange and the Anne Arundel County-Howard County line, subject to
existing signage and placement requirements for speed cameras. The bill also requires a
real-time display of a driver’s traveling speed. From the fines collected as a result of
violations enforced by those speed cameras, any balance remaining after cost recovery
must be remitted to the Comptroller for distribution to the State Highway Administration
(SHA) to be used solely to assist in covering the cost of speed reduction measures and
roadway and pedestrian safety improvements in the affected area. The bill terminates
September 30, 2026.
                                  Fiscal Summary
State Effect: Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) revenues increase from FY 2022 to 2027
to the extent speed cameras are placed as authorized. TTF expenditures increase
correspondingly for roadway and pedestrian safety improvements in the affected area.
General fund revenues may increase negligibly from FY 2022 to 2027 due to additional
contested cases in District Court.
Local Effect: Local revenues increase from FY 2022 to 2027 to the extent speed cameras
are placed as authorized, as discussed below. Expenditures increase only for
implementation costs, with the remaining amounts remitted to the Comptroller for
distribution to SHA.
Small Business Effect: Potential minimal.
                                         Analysis
Current Law: Speed monitoring systems must be authorized in a local jurisdiction by the
governing body of the jurisdiction (but only after reasonable notice and a public hearing).
Before activating a speed monitoring system, a local jurisdiction must publish notice of the
location of the speed monitoring system on its website and in a newspaper of general
circulation in the jurisdiction. In addition, the jurisdiction must also ensure that each sign
that designates a school zone is proximate to a sign that (1) indicates that speed monitoring
systems are in use in the school zone and (2) conforms with specified traffic control device
standards adopted by the State Highway Administration. Similar requirements apply to
speed cameras established on Maryland Route 210 (Indian Head Highway) as well as
institutions of higher education in Prince George’s County. On Maryland Route 210, each
sign indicating the use of a speed camera must be near a device that displays a real-time
posting of the driver’s speed.
Generally, from the fines generated by a speed monitoring system, the relevant jurisdiction
may recover the costs of implementing the system and may spend any remaining balance
solely for public safety purposes, including for pedestrian safety programs. However, if the
balance of revenues after cost recovery for any fiscal year is greater than 10% of the
jurisdiction’s total revenues, the excess must be remitted to the Comptroller.
State/Local Fiscal Effect: Under the bill, the number of citations issued in
Anne Arundel County is expected to increase. As a result, the number of individuals opting
for a trial in District Court is also likely to increase. Accordingly, general fund revenues
may increase negligibly, as fine revenues paid by individuals convicted in District Court
are paid into the general fund. The increase in District Court caseloads can be handled with
existing resources.
Local revenues increase from fiscal 2022 to 2027 to the extent that the authorization to
place speed cameras is used.
Likewise, if the authorization is used, expenditures increase over the same time period to
procure, install, and maintain the additional camera(s). Based on historical data and the use
of speed camera systems in the State to date, the increase in revenues is likely to exceed
the increase in expenditures. After cost recovery, the remaining revenues must be remitted
to the Comptroller for distribution to SHA, which must then make the required speed
reduction measures and pedestrian safety improvements.
Although the exact increase in revenues cannot be projected because the number of
cameras that might be placed and the number of citations that might be issued in the area
affected by the bill is unknown, for illustrative purposes only, revenues increase by
$71,175 in fiscal 2022 (reflecting the bill’s October 1, 2021 effective date), by
SB 888/ Page 2
$94,900 from fiscal 2023 to 2026, and by $23,725 in fiscal 2027 (due to the bill’s
September 30, 2026 termination date) under the following assumptions:
      one speed camera is placed in the area authorized by the bill;
      the speed camera captures an average of 10 violations per day;
      65% of violators prepay the fine (at $40); and
      35% of violators contest the citation in District Court.
Revenues increase correspondingly for additional violations captured and each additional
speed camera placed.
Also, under this scenario, a portion of the revenues would be retained for cost recovery
purposes, while any remaining balance would be remitted to the Comptroller for
distribution to SHA as required by the bill.
                               Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: None.
Information Source(s): Judiciary (Administrative Office of the Courts); Department of
Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History:     First Reader - March 3, 2021
rh/ljm                   Third Reader - April 6, 2021
                         Enrolled - May 10, 2021
                                Revised - Amendment(s) - May 10, 2021
Analysis by: Eric F. Pierce                           Direct Inquiries to:
                                                      (410) 946-5510
                                                      (301) 970-5510
SB 888/ Page 3
Statutes affected: 
Text - First - Anne Arundel County - Speed Monitoring Systems - Maryland Route 175 (Jessup Road): 21-809 Transportation
Text - Third - Anne Arundel County - Speed Monitoring Systems - Maryland Route 175 (Jessup Road): 21-809 Transportation
Text - Enrolled - Anne Arundel County - Speed Monitoring Systems - Maryland Route 175 (Jessup Road): 7-302 Courts and Judicial Proceedings, 21-809 Transportation