BALTIMORE, MD. (November 18, 2012) – Today, the City of Baltimore released new data showing that the majority of speed camera citations issued in Baltimore City are issued to non-city motorists, generating roughly $14.8 in citations during fiscal year 2012 from motorists with vehicles not registered within the City of Baltimore. The data implies that the majority of motorists violating speed limits in Baltimore do not live in the city. Of a total of 686,455 citations issued in fiscal year 2012, approximately 43% were issued to city motorists; the rest were issued to vehicles registered to addresses outside the city. More than 6% of all citations were issued to vehicles registered out of state. (See attached maps.) “This new data seems to indicate that motorists who do not live in the City of Baltimore are not getting the message to slow down on city streets located in schools zones,” Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said. “Pedestrian and traffic safety is a serious issue that we must confront, especially to protect students going to and from school. The new data comes as a task force appointed by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is conducting a comprehensive review of the City’s speed camera program. The Automated Traffic Violation Enforcement System Task Force is evaluating the City’s camera enforcement programs by reviewing camera locations, citation accuracy rates, and program management. Committee members will also review program data trends to ensure that the systems help reduce speeds and improve safety, and that enforcement is equitably distributed among resident and nonresident motorists. According to a recent Citizen Survey, city residents found ‘disobeying traffic laws’ to be a more serious problem than property crime, panhandling, and graffiti. The survey, which was conducted by researchers from the University of Baltimore, also found that residents believed ‘disobeying traffic laws’ was getting worse—more than property crime and illegal dumping. In fiscal 2012, the program generated $19.2 million in collected revenue, approximately $4.2 million more than projected. $5.46 million of the Fiscal 2012 speed camera collected revenue was utilized for administration of the program. The remaining $9.54 million collected revenue is a contributing fund source to $32.2 million of expenditures supporting transportation safety throughout the city, including traffic safety, traffic management, snow and ice control, and street lighting. An additional $4.2 million of the revenue that was collected above the $15 million projected budget will be used for one-time capital projects improving safety at intersections experiencing frequent incidences of accidents, upgrading traffic signal and signage technology, improving access for persons with disabilities, replacing safety devices on ramps to I-83, MD 295, and other high-speed roadways, and to develop additional bike lanes throughout Downtown to promote bicycle safety. Speed Camera revenue is expected to decline in future years as has been found in other jurisdictions, including Montgomery County Maryland.  In Baltimore, on average, citations for fixed location speed cameras are declining by about 2.5 citations per camera per month.