New Cameras To Watch Old Cameras Coming to Pr. George's
Citing property damage, county will roll out cameras to watch speed cameras.
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More cameras could be coming to roadways in Prince George’s County.
But instead of catching speeders, these cameras will be watching the cameras meant to catch speeders.
WTOP reports that officials in Prince George’s County hope to roll out some 40 cameras that will be placed to watch speed cameras—the goal being to protect them from being vandalized.
Since April, police in Prince George’s County have documented six people damaging speed cameras, including an April 6 incident where someone shot a camera near Route 301 in Upper Marlboro, according to WTOP.
After all, police said, speed cameras need protection too.
"It costs us $30,000 to $100,000 to replace a camera. That's a significant loss in the program,” Maj. Robert V. Liberati told WTOP. “Plus it also takes a camera off the street that operates and slows people down. So there's a loss of safety for the community.”
County officials gave approval last year for police to roll out nearly 100 new speed cameras near schools in communities across the county. During a County Council meeting debating the cameras, residents protested, but the cameras began popping up and snapping photos of speeders this year.
Liberati told WTOP that cameras themselves can't be used for security because under Maryland law speed cameras can only take pictures of speeding.
sonia stewart
11:30 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
Too bad that money used to protect cameras can't be used to protect people and property.
fred quimby
11:34 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
pretty soon they'll need additional cameras to watch the cameras that are watching the cameras.
and so forth.
Emil Farkwarp
5:16 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012
Nice workaround by the thugs in charge to continue to steal our freedom.
lilkunta
6:50 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
unless they have a police officer posted the cameras on the speed cameras wont help. All one has to do is wear a face mask and shoot the speed camera camera and the speed camera.
Instead of wasting $30k -$100k on cameras, put that $ to help citizens. We are in a recession yet the sales tax increased from 5% to 6%; bag taxes are in many counties; and speed cameras are on every road.