What’s Next? Martin Says Speed Cameras

An hour had yet to pass since Havre de Grace’s city council passed —mandating the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in most homes in the city of Havre de Grace.

Council President Bill Martin was already looking ahead.

“What’s going to get everybody coming to council meetings,” Martin asked, hypothetically, just as many residents have quizzed him lately.

Martin, who got the legislative snowball on the carbon monoxide detector ordinance rolling with help from Susquehanna Hose Company Chief Scott Hurst in October, said speed cameras are next on the council’s agenda. A public workshop will be scheduled during the next council meeting, slated for Feb. 22. No meeting date was suggested Monday night. 

“The State of Maryland has passed legislation a couple of years ago to authorize use of speed cameras in counties and municipalities,” Martin said near the close of . “It’s something we’ve looked at on and off.”

The cameras would be installed in school zones only, Martin said.

Martin admitted Monday he’s not sure how the process will play out.

“I’m not even sure where the council stands, to tell you the truth,” Martin said. “I know there are a lot of people for it, and a lot of people against it.”

According to a blog site dedicated to the fight against such legislation, speed cameras have been installed in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City.

A search on this site for red light cameras in the State of Maryland turned up 109 listings of speed cameras or combination cameras. The nearest listings to Havre de Grace were in Parkville and Perry Hall.

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CORRECTION: The date of the next council meeting was originally misstated in this story. Council will next meet on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Patch regrets the error.