Police to Deploy Two New Mobile Speed Cameras in School Zones

By Andrew Metcalf

Howard County Police announced Monday they plan to deploy two new mobile speed cameras as part of a focused effort to maintain safety as students return to school next week.

The new mobile speed cameras will be used at locations where the van speed cameras cannot be safely used, according to the department. The two speed vans currently used by the county will continue to be used in other school zones, according to police spokesperson Mary Phelan.

The portable cameras are battery operated and are installed in cabinets bolted to a permanent concrete pad, according to the2013 speed camera report submitted to the County Council. Police are allowed to use up to eight speed camera systems, according to the legislation passed by the County Council in 2011. The new mobile cameras bring the county's total up to four with the two vans.

In addition to the speed cameras, police will be using targeted patrols around elementary, middle and high schools during the first two weeks of the school year in an effort to enforce speed limits in school zones.

The two portable cameras will be rotated among the following locations, according to police:

• Atholton High School – Freetown Road
• Bushy Park Elementary School – Carrs Mills Road
• Dayton Oaks Elementary School – Ten Oaks Road
• Pointers Run Elementary School – Great Star Drive walking route
• Swansfield Elementary School - Cedar Lane
• St. Johns Lane Elementary School – St. Johns Lane
• Mt. Hebron High School – St. Johns Lane
• Centennial Lane Elementary School – Centennial Lane
• Long Reach High School – Tamar Drive
• Forest Ridge Elementary School – Gorman Road
• Guilford Elementary School – Oakland Mills Road
• Glenelg High School – Burntwoods Road
• Jeffers Hill Elementary School - Tamar Drive