Baltimore drivers will soon face five more automated speed cameras near schools in Northeast and West Baltimore, the city Department of Transportation announced Friday. Because Maryland now ties camera fines to how fast a car is going, a ticket in one of these zones can cost anywhere from $40 to $425.
The cameras are scheduled to start operating on or about Monday, Oct. 26, according to the city announcement reported by WJZ/CBS Baltimore and FOX45. Here is what commuters, parents and anyone who regularly drives these corridors should know before then.
Where are the 5 new Baltimore speed cameras?
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) listed these school-zone locations:
| Location | School(s) served | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 5700–6000 blocks of Loch Raven Boulevard | Cardinal Shehan School; Yorkwood Elementary School | Northeast Baltimore |
| 4600–5300 blocks of Moravia Road | Furley Elementary School | Northeast Baltimore |
| 2800–2900 blocks of W. Baltimore Street | The SEED School of Maryland | West Baltimore |
| 6200–6400 McClean Boulevard | Reginald F. Lewis High School | Northeast Baltimore |
| 2300–2500 E. Northern Parkway | Baltimore Revolutionary Academy (BRAVE) | Northeast Baltimore |
Loch Raven Boulevard, Moravia Road and Northern Parkway are busy commuter routes, so the cameras will affect many drivers who simply pass through these neighborhoods.
When do school-zone speed cameras operate in Baltimore?
Baltimore’s school-zone cameras run year-round, Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the city’s Automated Traffic Violation Enforcement System (ATVES) page. That means they keep ticketing during summer break, holidays and evening hours, not only during arrival and dismissal.
The cameras flag vehicles going at least 12 mph over the posted limit in a signed school zone. Under Section 21-809 of Maryland’s Transportation Article, a school zone can stretch up to a half-mile from a K-12 school, so the enforcement area may extend beyond the block where the building sits. Watch for the posted school-zone signs and the speed limit they list.
How much is a Baltimore speed camera ticket now?
Until Oct. 1, 2025, a Maryland speed camera ticket was a flat $40 no matter how fast the driver was going. A state law that took effect that day replaced the flat fine with a five-step scale, which Baltimore applies to school-zone, work-zone and Jones Falls Expressway cameras:
- 12 to 15 mph over: $40
- 16 to 19 mph over: $70
- 20 to 29 mph over: $120
- 30 to 39 mph over: $230
- 40 mph or more over: $425
In a 25-mph zone, for example, a driver clocked at 45 mph would fall in the $120 tier. These are civil citations: no points go on a driver’s license, and the city says the tickets do not affect insurance. They are mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner.
“Stay alert, obey posted speed limits and use extra caution when driving through school zones to protect students and pedestrians.”
Baltimore City Department of Transportation, as quoted by FOX45
What happens if you ignore a ticket, and how do you fight one?
The city’s ATVES page says failing to pay, request a review or contest a citation by the due date counts as an admission of liability and can lead to added fees. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration can refuse to renew the registration of a vehicle with more than $1,000 in outstanding camera citations.
Drivers who think a ticket is wrong have two main options, according to BCDOT:
- Ask for a review. A local designee, or ombudsman, reviews citations at a motorist’s request. The city says to email the ATVES Ombudsman to start that process.
- Request a court date. Mail a request at least five days before the due date on the notice to Baltimore City Parking Fines, 200 Holliday Street, Room 2, Baltimore, MD 21202, or look up the citation online by tag or citation number and choose “Request a Trial.” Drivers found liable in District Court may also owe court costs.
If someone else was driving, Maryland law requires the registered owner to request a hearing and give the District Court a letter stating that they were not operating the vehicle, according to the city.
Why is Baltimore adding more cameras?
BCDOT says speeding and red-light running are leading causes of death and injury on city roads, and that most camera locations are studied after residents raise concerns. The agency reviews crash data, violation data and traffic counts before choosing sites.
The new locations add to an expanding network. In May, the city switched on cameras near four other schools, as the Baltimore Chronicle reported, and neighboring Anne Arundel County has also added a camera near an Annapolis school. On I-83, the city runs four speed cameras, and BCDOT says it has recorded speeds as high as 173 mph on the expressway.
What should drivers do before Oct. 26?
- Note which of the five corridors are on your commute, school run or delivery route.
- Remember the hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, every month of the year.
- Check your speedometer, not just the flow of traffic. Going with faster traffic does not protect against a ticket.
- Keep your MVA address current so a citation does not go to an old address and pass its due date.
The city did not say in its announcement whether the new cameras will issue warnings before fines begin. Drivers should treat the posted limits as enforced from the first day of operation.
Featured image: A roadside speed enforcement camera on Wisconsin Avenue in Maryland. Photo: Tony Webster / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.