A HOST of new laws coming to a major US state are set to come down harder on drivers caught breaking the speed limit by 40 mph or more.
These changes, focused on the use of speed cameras, will take effect on October 1.
Lawmakers in Maryland are getting tough on speeders across the state with an increase in cameras and heftier fines[/caption]
Indian Head Highway in Prince George’s County has been labeled the “highway of death” due to regular speeders[/caption]
Fines as high as $425 are coming for those that exceed the limit across the state by 40 mph or more[/caption]
According to Landline Media, Maryland Governor Wes Moore recently signed new legislation impacting speed camera usage across the state.
Cameras can now be utilized in various counties, municipalities and highway work zones – in a bid to deter speeding drivers.
Since 2024, work zone violations have had graduated fines, while other areas maintain a $40 maximum fine for speeding violations.
And the new ruling is set to introduce graduated fines for speeding violations caught by cameras, including $40 for exceeding the limit by 12 to 15 mph, but rising to $425 for driving 40 mph or more above the speed limit.
In particular, Indian Head Highway in Prince George’s County has been labeled the “highway of death” due to its infamous speeding problems.
Indeed, speed cameras along the road recorded over 200 drivers going faster than 100 mph between August and October 2023 – with one motorist caught driving at 170 mph.
These new laws will allow more cameras to be installed along the highway to catch speeding drivers.
Speed cameras are also being added to two major highways in Baltimore County; Interstate 83 (I-83), which will have up to six cameras, and Interstate 695 (I-695), which is getting up to eight cameras.
Baltimore City will also have four new cameras on its section of I-83 – doubling the current number – while cameras will no longer be removed in 2026 as had previously been planned.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said the camera tech has helped reduce crashes and improve safety.
However, he added: “Even with the current camera systems in place, Baltimore City still ranked third among jurisdictions in fatal crashes, which shows that more still can and needs to be done in order to improve safety.”
Elsewhere in the state, speed cameras will be added to Route 200, Intercounty Connector, in Montgomery County, on highways that are considered high-risk for crashes causing serious injuries or deaths.
The public is set to be notified before they’re are installed, with signs to be posted to warn drivers.
Lawmakers generally believe a wave of stronger penalties will make drivers think twice before speeding – with Delegate Vaughn Stewart claiming the current flat $40 fine isn’t enough.
Stewart said: “By aligning penalties with the severity of the offense, Maryland can hold reckless drivers accountable, deter dangerous speeding and protect the most vulnerable road users.”
Some locals, though, have argued that speed cameras don’t really improve safety – but instead focus on making money through fines.
How to fight a speeding ticket
According to a legally reviewed post, there are five effective strategies to fighting a speeding ticket if it was wrongfully issued.
- If pulled over and issued a ticket, drivers can argue or dispute a driver’s personal opinion. When issuing a speeding ticket, an officer is required to write their opinion and come to an “objective” conclusion. If the ticket was written based on that judgment, it can be contested. An example would be if you were going 75 mph in a 65 mph zone because others were traveling at the same speed, you could argue that it would be more dangerous to travel at 65 mph.
- You can dispute the officer’s presentation of evidence. If you were ticketed for something like running a stop sign or making an illegal u-turn, you can’t contest that if an officer saw you, but you can call things into court like eyewitnesses, diagrams, or photos.
- Argue that the ticket was issued by a “mistake of fact.” This is tricky, but a “mistake of fact” is a mistake made by a driver about a situation that was beyond their control, or if a driver legitimately did not know they were violating the law. For example, you were driving in two lanes because the lane markers were so worn down that you could not see them.
- You could say circumstances justified your driving. You could say you were speeding to pass a possibly drunk driver, or avoiding an accident by rapidly changing lanes. However, the argument won’t work if there’s proof you continued to speed after passing.
- Similar to the above, it could be argued that speeding was necessary to avoid harm. The key is to argue that if you weren’t speeding, you or someone else could have been harmed.
- Consult a traffic attorney, if all else fails. Many have free consultations to decide whether or not there’s a case.
Source: FindLaw
