(1/30) In an effort to help decrease driver’s speed, Thurmont’s Police Chief Greg Eyler proposed implementing a new program that would utilize speed cameras within the town’s school zones. Thurmont’s Board of Commissioners discussed this speed-monitoring program during their January 15 meeting.

As mentioned by Eyler, Thurmont’s Police Department has received numerous complaints from residents, crossing guards and school personnel of speeding motorists within school zones. As much as the Police Department tries, the Department simply doesn’t have enough time or manpower to monitor and enforce speeding within the school zones. "Utilizing speed cameras will provide more consistent enforcement," stated Eyler.

According to the State Highway Administration (SHA) speed cameras can only be placed in a school or work zone; school zones, by definition, are designated as a one-half-mile radius around a school. The primary goal of utilizing the speed cameras is ultimately to ensure the safety of the children, residents and visitors to the area.

As part of the program, which is provided by Optotraffic, a citation will be issued if a vehicle is going twelve miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit. For the first 30 days of operation warnings will be issued to drivers who exceed the speed limit. Any driver cited will receive a maximum fine of $40 and no points will be placed on the license. For each traffic citation, the town will receive $28. The camera would be in use Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

According to Eyler, the program would come at no cost to the town, as it is a violator-funded system. Revenue generated from the speed camera would be obligated toward public safety, including street repairs, traffic signs, and public safety programs. Additionally, through Optotraffic, traffic studies can be conducted, necessary signage would be installed, and maintenance to the systems would be provided, at no cost to the town or the police department.

Although the speed cameras present what appears to be a positive solution to managing speedy drivers throughout the school zones, Commissioner Marty Burns stood strongly opposed to utilizing them.

This seems to be a way of "using technology as big brother overseeing us," stated Burns. Burns believes that utilizing these cameras won’t stop drivers from speeding, instead people will learn where the cameras are, slow down when approaching and then speed up as soon as they are out of range.

Burns also stood opposed to the idea of operating these cameras as late a 8 p.m.. "It’s no longer a safety issue at that point," he argued, but more of a way to generate revenue.

Commissioner Bill Buehrer and Mayor John Kinnaird both stood on the opposing side of Burns, agreeing that the cameras would be a public safety initiative to reduce speeding through town.

Resident Jim Wilkins spoke during the public comment portion of the discussion stating that "any life you can save is worth any endeavor you put into it [however] these cameras are like cash resisters on four wheels that doesn’t promote anything but income." Another resident, Jay Churchill, stated that he believes that these cameras will not completely solve the problem, but they could reduce the issue of speeding.

No vote was taken during the meeting, as only two Commissioners were present. Chief Eyler will present a copy of the contract with Optotraffic to the Mayor and Commissioners before a vote is taken at a future meeting.