Speed cameras yield $2.4M

After speed cameras installed throughout College Park raked in millions of dollars in revenue over the last five months, city officials tasked with allocating this money said they will consult with the community and police to determine how best to use it.

According to city officials, revenue from the four cameras totaled about $2.4 million as of 10 days ago. City Director of Finance Steve Groh said the city will most likely have between $350,000 and $600,000 to spend after funds from that pool are deducted to pay the camera operating company and Prince George's County Police for certifying speeding citations.

Because state law mandates the money from speed camera citations be put toward funding public safety projects, College Park City Council members used last night's meeting to suggest such revenue uses, including installing security cameras around the city and improving street lighting.

But council members said they would have to take into account the inconsistent nature of the funds generated from speed cameras — revenue is usually high when they are first installed because residents aren't aware of the cameras and continue to speed. Once the community has adjusted to the radar, fewer fines are distributed.

"Because we expect and hope that revenue [from the speed cameras] is going to decline, we can't be thinking of sustainable programs; we have to be thinking of one-time investments," said District 3 Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich.

Stullich said investments in security cameras or local volunteer fire departments would be the optimal way to spend the money, as it would be impossible to fund ongoing projects with the revenue. Most council members said they agreed with this notion.

City officials also changed the hours of most of the speed cameras — including those on Route 1, Metzerott Road and Paint Branch Parkway — about a month ago.

They now operate only from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., instead of 24/7. According to Public Services Director Bob Ryan, the speed camera on Rhode Island Avenue was already operating under the limited hours and city officials received feedback from residents who said the new system, with some cameras operating on a 24/7 basis, was confusing.

However, city council members did not address last night how the change in hours would affect revenue generated from the cameras and largely focused on what they would do with the current pool of money.

Because officials have until June to allocate the funds, no concrete timetable has been established for when the council will vote on proposals.

District 4 Councilman Marcus Afzali said without meeting with University Police Chief David Mitchell and others who deal with issues of crime and public safety on a regular basis, the council could not make an informed decision on the best projects to fund.

"If we don't at least ask them what they think, ... I think that would just be insane," he said.

District 1 Councilwoman Christine Nagle said she would consult constituents to determine their needs, as well.

"One thing I'd like to do is go back and throw some ideas out to our community and see what's most important to them," she said.

kirkwood at umdbk dot com