I think that a camera should be installed behind every legislator's seat in the General Assembly, one that focuses in on the screen of any handheld devices or laptop he or she has. And every time that legislator uses said device to some purpose that is not directly related to the current matter at hand, he or she should be fined $100. Or maybe zapped with a tiny bolt of electricity delivered via a special receptacle on the camera. In fact, we could let them choose--zap or fine. But they'd only get to pick the same one twice in a row before they got the other.

I expect lots of MD plates in the form of 8B88B8B8B in the future

The first implementation will probably be on their already money-making highway known as I-81. All 17 miles of it.

/hate MD SP
/no wait - hate MD. FTFM

Maryland has some good traits, but the government does a great job of making it a miserable place to live. And governance of the state has changes hands between parties several times over the years, so this isn't really a partisan issue, the people who run the state are just always stupid. I've been in Florida since 2002 and I can't ever envision going back. And that's saying something, because Florida has its own tag on Fark for a reason.

Traffic camera vendors also helped promote the effort with lavish gifts, parties and campaign donations

But only to keep the children safe, of course.

Here's hoping they all DIAF.

Lawmakers in Annapolis, at the urging of Governor Martin O'Malley (D), saw the measure as an essential means of reining in the state's run-away budget deficit. Traffic camera vendors also helped promote the effort with lavish gifts, parties and campaign donations.

At least they're not lying about it being a safety issue. Gotta give them points for honesty.

Action Replay Nick: Maryland has some good traits, but the government does a great job of making it a miserable place to live. And governance of the state has changes hands between parties several times over the years, so this isn't really a partisan issue, the people who run the state are just always stupid. I've been in Florida since 2002 and I can't ever envision going back. And that's saying something, because Florida has its own tag on Fark for a reason.

It is mostly partisan because the statehouse runs the state, not the governor, just ask anyone from the Ehrlich administration.

At least they're not lying about it being a safety issue.

The law makes it illegal to raise insurance rates because of speed camera tickets, and you only lose your license if you don't pay.

I want the military system for traffic law. Effectively, tickets for minor violations only have points, not fines. Call them warnings if you like. Too many warnings not overturned by the base hearing officer and you can't drive on base any more.

Traffic camera vendors also helped promote the effort with lavish gifts, parties and campaign donations.

This is vile, and it's what is behind all this: sheer avarice. Anyone who says there's any consideration here for "public safety" is just a liar.

They did this in Arizona - it won't make nearly the money they think it will.

In this economy, people will slow down. We seem to forgot that wasting time is wasting lives too. How much time is wasted commuting or in airport security lines?

Goodbye Maryland.

Not coming back.

Keeping my wallet in my pocket.
thbthbthbthbththbt :-P

Why didnt they just raise cigarette taxes like everybody else?

Smokers are evil and need to pay so people can have free government stuff.

Drivers are good and shouldn't be forced to drive slowly.

lajimi: Lawmakers in Annapolis, at the urging of Governor Martin O'Malley (D), saw the measure as an essential means of reining in the state's run-away budget deficit. Traffic camera vendors also helped promote the effort with lavish gifts, parties and campaign donations.

At least they're not lying about it being a safety issue. Gotta give them points for honesty.

Sure they're lying about it, this source is biased and put the words in their mouths. Look and see whose name is on the masthead.

Heh. I-95 through Maryland will be gridlocked all day long.

/gotta get busy making my revolving License plate thingy....

Now I know why it isn't Merryland.

/because it isn't merry.
//also, what PocketNinja said.

Drivers in md could just obey the law and maybe they could also learn how to merge.

Action Replay Nick: And governance of the state has changes hands between parties several times over the years, so this isn't really a partisan issue

Not entirely true. State republicans have never really had a strong showing in the statehouse and Ehrlich was the first republican governor in something like 50-100 years, and he was a one termer. This is really just an extension of the tax grab that happened not a couple of months after O'Malley took over the governors mansion.

Unfortunately, if you want to go from the NorthEast to DC and points south, you have no choice but to drive through Maryland.

In this economy, people will slow down. We seem to forgot that wasting time is wasting lives too.

In Arizona the official report stating that freeway speed cameras were wonderful showed that the cost of delay was comparable to the claimed value of reduced accidents. For statistical purposes, however, delay due to traffic slowed for speed cameras was counted as zero cost while delay due to traffic slowed for an accident was counted at the standard $15 per hour (more or less).

Good. Cops should be patrolling the neighborhoods, not sitting around trying to nab speeders.

this will go on until a bunch of legislators start getting traffic tickets mailed to them.

If you elect me I will be your advocate, your patron, your voice of reason and sanity in this otherworldly business of politics! WE can make this a better place if you put ME in office!

What? I got elected? Woo hoo! Open your wallets you stupid farkers, It's time for my annual raise! Oh, and I also need to kick a little something back to my "friends" from the campaign!

What's that, you say you want to question my legislation? Out of my way peasant!

this will go on until a bunch of legislators start getting traffic tickets mailed to them.

That's why the amendment to make legislators subject to tickets failed.

Land of the free... free to follow the gaddam rules... we'll be watching.


Your taxes pay for people to decide this stuff for you. Congrats! We all win the dumbass average taxpayer award.

Well at least we still don't have a toll booth every 10 miles

clipperbox: this will go on until a bunch of legislators start getting traffic tickets mailed to them.

FTA: "Lawmakers also rejected an amendment that would have ensured that state legislators were not exempt from receiving photo radar tickets."

Action Replay Nick: governance of the state has changes hands between parties several times over the years, so this isn't really a partisan issue . . .

Wrong. Other than Spiro Agnew in the 60s an a one-term Republican governor a few years back, the place has been wholesale run by Democrats for a long as I've been alive--and damn crooked ones at that. Cite.

/Adult victim of child abuse by the Montgomery County Public School
//Refugee South to (slightly less of a good-ole-boy kleptocratic police state) Virginia

Everyone should lobby for a pre emptive ban on red light cameras wherever the law isn't already in effect.

its all fine and dandy for the common folk to stay in line and in debt, but the leaders, oh no no no. they are exempt.

neomatt: clipperbox: this will go on until a bunch of legislators start getting traffic tickets mailed to them.

FTA: "Lawmakers also rejected an amendment that would have ensured that state legislators were not exempt from receiving photo radar tickets."


sorry, the way it was written threw me off...it's not quite a double negative, but it did confuse me (just woke up too).

Lame headline, it's about speed cameras.

Solution: Don't speed.

Honestly, where are you going in a hurry anyways? You don't matter.

Other than Spiro Agnew in the 60s an a one-term Republican governor a few years back, the place has been wholesale run by Democrats for a long as I've been alive--and damn crooked ones at that.

And Agnew was a damn crooked Republican.

Just like everyone's favorite talk show host Neal Boortz says, it's not for safety, but for $Revenue Generation$... it's not News, it's Big Government!

Solution: Don't speed.

And don't park near a speed camera. And don't drive near a car that is speeding. And don't drive where the camera is calibrated incorrectly. And don't drive where the camera was programmed with an incorrect speed limit. And don't own a car with a license plate that looks similar to a car that does any of the preceding things, or speeds.

tombotia: Lame headline, it's about speed cameras.

Solution: Don't speed.

Honestly, where are you going in a hurry anyways? You don't matter.


if you don't speed, then the legislature just wasted a bunch of money on these traffic cameras. if you do speed, you waste money by paying for traffic tickets. what a shiatty position the MD gov't puts itself in.

Hey Crackheads,

All those cameras are made of metal. You know what you can trade scrap metal for? Hint, hint.

(in case any hard core crackheads are reading this thread).

....or, just don't speed.

ryosen: Unfortunately, if you want to go from the NorthEast to DC and points south, you have no choice but to drive through Maryland.

Why would one want to do such a thing?

/I kid. Charleston is very nice.

FTFA: "Lawmakers in Annapolis, at the urging of Governor Martin O'Malley (D), saw the measure as an essential means of reining in the state's run-away budget deficit."

At least they are not claiming the cameras are about "safety".

F### You Baltimore! (new window)

/NSFW
//only semi related
///ridiculously funny
//// slashies!
// Not a rick roll, I promise

I like how if you go 57 in a 55 you get a ticket. 2 MPH over? Is this serious?

neomatt: FTA: "Lawmakers also rejected an amendment that would have ensured that state legislators were not exempt from receiving photo radar tickets

I"m dim. THat can't mean that they are exempt, can it?

As a Maryland driver who has mastered the art of making the haul to/from DC in 45 minutes or less, Martin O'Malley can suck it.

It's funny how his email address is MOM, because this is a nanny statish move, but it's one that's hard not to vote for. Yeah, people shouldn't speed. But that doesn't mean we need cameras to send them violations. That's a cop's job, to pull you over. Don't make it some secretive thing.

Shooting out all the speed and redlight cameras would be a very appropriate first volley in the new revolution.

Pocket Ninja: But they'd only get to pick the same one twice in a row before they got the other.

Now that's just sadistic.


I love it!

God forbid that Maryland should actually cut any state programs.

And so it begins.....

fireclown: I"m dim. THat can't mean that they are exempt, can it?

Yeah, they voted down the amendment that would have treated them like common plebes.

Desterado: I like how if you go 57 in a 55 you get a ticket. 2 MPH over? Is this serious?

The width of the needle on my speedometer is probably 2mph. fark that. Thankfully, I've got no more reason to be in Maryland than I do the greater majority of the northeast.

mexican bathtub cheese: Shooting out all the speed and redlight cameras would be a very appropriate first volley in the new revolution.

I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.