Have you ever received a “speed camera” ticket in the mail? If so, you have already probably figured out that it is NOT about traffic safety, but rather a clever way for devious state and local politicians to gouge the citizens for more government revenue, without calling it a “tax”.
Since 2009, this “driver’s tax” has been expanded to stop sign and school bus passing violations, with penalties as high as $250 for each one.
Even if you have a reasonable explanation for how the “violation” occurred, the inconvenience of spending hours waiting to try the matter before judge in traffic court discourages most offenders to just pay up without an argument. And even in court, there is no guarantee of success. (cameras don’t lie!)
To correct this issue, we need a new breed of state and local politicians in Maryland who will say NO to these fake taxing schemes. As a state senator, I would certainly seek an end to these types of devious, hidden taxes.
Needed in the Maryland General Assembly is a move to lower taxes, such as by ending the “speed camera” penalty tax. Speed “indicators” that don’t charge automatic penalties is a sensible alternative where there is a special need to slow down.