Maryland speed camera sign (Provided photo)

Albany and Syracuse utilize cameras in the vicinity of schools to try to control the rampant disregard for school speed limits by many drivers. Both cities issue a $50 fine to the vehicle’s registered owner for speeding 10 mph or more over the school speed limit.

In October, a “Safety on the Roads” article explained how Syracuse activated its new camera enforcement in September, giving out warnings for the first two months before issuing fines beginning the week of Nov. 2. In that article, I asked readers who are strongly in favor of speed cameras, or strongly opposed, to send me a short e-mail with their opinion. Although I did not receive many responses, I did receive a very interesting response from a reader referring to the state of Maryland. According to the e-mail I received and a Google search, Maryland utilizes speed cameras in a tiered system.

Effective October 2025, Maryland speed camera laws include tiered fines based on how fast you are speeding over the limit, with penalties increasing for higher speeds. As in NYS, these tickets do not add points to your driver’s license or affect your insurance rates. Tickets are based on the license plate, regardless of who is driving the vehicle. The fines range from $40 for 12-15 mph over the limit to $425 for exceeding the limit by 40 mph or more.

The new fines in Maryland for speeding in a school speed limit are:

¯ $40 if caught exceeding the speed limit by 12-15 mph

¯ $70 from 16-19 over the limit

¯ $120 for 20-29 mph above the limit

¯ $230 for speeding 30-39 mph over the limit

¯ $425 for going 40 mph or more above the speed limit

The speed cameras are used for school speed limits and also on residential streets and roads with a normal speed limit of 35 mph or less. The picture accompanying this article is located on state Route 108 in Olney, Maryland and was taken by a reader from Maryland who lives in Tupper Lake for part of the year.

Last year, Maryland adopted a tiered system of fines for drivers caught speeding in highway work zones. Lawmakers passed the “Road Worker Protection Act” after a driver crashed into a construction zone in Baltimore County in 2023, killing six workers.

“The speeding has got to stop,” said John Seng, chair of “Safe Roads Maryland.”

Under this law, if you are going between 12 and 15 mph over the speed limit, the fine will be $60. Fines get progressively higher from there. For speeders going 40 mph or more over the limit, the fine is $500; if workers are present, it’ll cost you $1,000.

Maryland’s law also requires signs and flashing blue lights when workers are present, so drivers will have plenty of warning.

“When it’s a construction zone with a concentration of people simply trying to do their jobs, it sends the message to people that, again, enough is enough,” Seng said.