A whole lot of communities in Maryland are getting downright eager to slap up as many speed cameras as possible, but their citizens aren’t exactly enthused about the prospect, according to a recent article in the Washington Post.

Now, to Maryland’s credit, their speed camera laws are at least trying to show some respect for the driver–the speed camera cannot actually issue a ticket on any car unless it’s going twelve miles an hour over the speed limit, they can’t be put on any bridges or tunnels, and if any municipality actually makes more than ten percent of its annual revenue from speed traps, they have to give the overage to the state.

This last was put in after reports that Chevy Chase Village managed to make fully one third of its annual revenue after installing speed trap cameras, which is horrifying by any measure.

And I’m not sure what good THAT clause does–doubtless Maryland needs the cash just as much, and under certain types of profit sharing laws Maryland towns would get a cut of its excesses back anyway.  I’m still not sure that these cameras are a good idea, but as long as state and local budgets feel the pinch of the recession on their necks, the cameras aren’t likely to leave.

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