Speed Camera Case – Hope after years of hard work

On May 2, 2008 I filed suit as the representative Plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against Montgomery County for allowing ACS (a private company) to get a contingency fee for every speed camera ticket that was paid – despite the statute saying that if Montgomery County hired a contractor to operate the system than the contractor could not be paid a contingency fee. The Maryland Legislature wanted a private company to have a financial incentive to give out tickets.

Over the last four years we’ve fought the program in the courts. This week Maryland’s Court of Appeals agreed to take the case after it being dismissed by the Circuit Court and that dismissal affirmed by the Court of Special Appeals.

The problems with the speed cameras are well-documented by now. I was involved in a case where the contractor’s representative testified that it was impossible to measure speed using photographs as evidence – despite the fact that the people who get citations are supposed to be able to know they are speeding from looking at the photographs!

Hopefully the Court of Appeals is going to reverse the lower courts and give Maryland citizens back their due process rights.