Vandals Strike Out at Speed Cameras

Speed cameras are good at nailing motorists exceeding the speed limit in Baltimore County school zones, but not so effective in helping catch vandals.

Two of the county's 15 speed cameras have been vandalized since the program to monitor speeds in school zones began nearly a year ago, according to Lt. Robert McCullough, a police spokesman.

In both cases, police have not made an arrest and are asking for tips that could lead them to the vandals. 

In one incident, someone spray painted the camera located in the 7400 block of North Point Road near Sparrows Point High School. The camera issued 462 tickets through Nov. 30, ranking 14th out of 15 cameras in the county, according to statistics released earlier this year.

Another camera, located in the 9800 block of Greenside Drive near Padonia Elementary School, had the protective cover over its lens cracked. The camera issued more than 6,200 tickets through Nov. 30, tops among all 15 units, according to those same statistics.

McCullough said he was not able to immediately provide information on when the cameras were damaged or how the vandalism was first discovered. That information might be available later this week, he said.

Both units were repaired at the expense of ACS State and Local Solutions, which owns the units, McCullough said.

Baltimore County rents each of the units from ACS State and Local Solutions for about $11,995 per camera per month.

McCullough, in an e-mail, wrote that "the damage did not interfere with our routine operations."

The two county units are not the only ones to feel the wrath of vandals.

The Frederick News-Post reported Tuesday that one of its two school zone cameras was damaged in the early morning hours of June 11.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 410-307-2020.