Marks to Vote Against Speed Camera Contract

Councilman David Marks said Thursday he will vote against a proposed s when the County Council meets on Tuesday.

"I have no objections to the procurement process and believe the contract was bid in a fair and responsible manner," wrote Marks, a Perry Hall Republican, in an email to Patch. "Furthermore, the new contract is much better for Baltimore County's taxpayers than the existing current.  However, I simply cannot reconcile a vote to finance an expansion of speed cameras with my earlier objection to authorize these cameras."

Marks, along with Todd Huff, a freshman Republican from Timonium, voted last year against a bill expanding the speed camera program.

The council is expected to vote on the contract with ACS State and Local Solutions on Tuesday night.

The initial 5-year contract will pay the company about $6.2 million. Two more single-year options to extend it could add $3 million to that total.

If approved, the company agrees to install seven more speed and red light cameras respectively by June.

County officials told the County Council this week that the with the company because the county will pay ACS $19 of every $40 fine it collects rather than a flat monthly fee per camera. 

Under the old contract, the county pays $12,000 per camera per month regardless of the number of tickets written or paid to the county.

This post was updated to correct the amount of the original speed camera contract. The figure lease is per camera per month.