Beat Baltimore Camera Tickets: Know Your Rights

If you've received a traffic ticket in Baltimore, you may be wondering how to beat it. Baltimore's old camera network, discontinued in 2013 due to erroneous tickets, has been replaced by a new network of speed and red-light cameras. These cameras are in place to enhance public safety and reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities. If you receive a ticket, you have the option to pay or request an appeal by mail, in person, or online. Appeals must be made within 40 days of the issue date for speed or red-light citations and within 10 days for parking tickets. If you wish to contest a citation because you were not driving the vehicle, you must provide a signed affidavit and evidence to support this. If you're unsure how to proceed, consider contacting a traffic lawyer for assistance.

Contesting a ticket in court

If you receive a speed camera ticket in Baltimore, you have the option to contest it in court. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to contest your ticket effectively:

Requesting a Hearing:

Receive the Ticket:

When you receive a speed camera ticket, it will include information about the violation and instructions on how to pay the fine or contest the ticket.

Decide to Contest:

If you choose to contest the ticket, you must request a hearing. This can usually be done by mail, online, or by calling the provided contact number on the ticket.

Timely Action:

Ensure you request a hearing within the specified timeframe, typically within 30 days from the date of the citation, to avoid additional penalties or fees.

Gather Evidence:

Collect any evidence that supports your case, such as photographs of the area where the violation occurred, maintenance records of the speed camera, and statements from any passengers or witnesses.

Documentation:

Bring all relevant documentation, including the ticket itself, your vehicle registration, and any correspondence related to the ticket.

Challenging the Evidence:

Accuracy of the Camera:

Challenge the accuracy of the speed camera by requesting maintenance and calibration records. If the camera was not properly maintained or calibrated, the recorded speed may be inaccurate.

Signage Issues:

Argue that the signage indicating the speed limit or the presence of the speed camera was missing, obscured, or incorrectly placed. Take photos of the current state of the signage to support your claim.

Mistaken Identity:

If you believe the camera captured the wrong vehicle, gather evidence to prove that you were not driving in that area at the time of the violation.

Presenting Your Case:

Prepare Your Presentation:

Organize and practice presenting your evidence and arguments clearly and concisely. Ensure you cover all relevant points effectively.

Judge's Review:

The judge will examine the evidence presented and listen to your arguments, and consider the prosecution's case. They may ask questions for clarification.

Outcome Decision:

Based on the presented evidence and arguments, the judge will decide whether to uphold the ticket, reduce the fine, or dismiss the ticket entirely.

By following these steps and carefully preparing your case, you can effectively contest a speed camera ticket in Baltimore and increase your chances of a favorable outcome.

Requesting a review of your citation

If you received a speed or red-light camera citation in Baltimore County that you believe was issued in error, you can request a review of your citation before you make a payment or request a court date. The Speed Camera Ombudsman Program provides you with this opportunity. After the review, the County will either uphold the original decision or void the citation.

To request a review of your citation, you need to:

• Download and complete the Citation Review Form: Make sure to include your name, address, email, a daytime phone number, citation number, and reason for your request.
• Submit the completed form: You can email the form to citationreview@baltimorecountymd.gov or mail it to Citation Review Section 400 Washington Avenue, Room 149, Towson, Maryland 21204. Remember that all requests must be made in writing, and no phone calls will be accepted.

Most reviews are completed within three to five business days. However, in some cases, the process may exceed this timeframe. All decisions will be conveyed to you in writing, and they will remain unchanged until a final review is conducted by the Citation Review Section.

If your citation is voided, the County will adjust all records accordingly. On the other hand, if the citation is upheld, you have the option to either pay the fine or request a court date for further consideration of your case.

Appealing a ticket

If you wish to appeal a ticket in Baltimore, you must first determine whether it is a parking, red light, or speed camera ticket. The Baltimore County Government provides a citation number by email or telephone. To request your citation number, you can call 410-887-8154 or email payments@baltimorecountymd.gov.

For a speed or red light citation, you must call 410-887-2777 within 40 days of the issue date to request a hearing. You can also pay or appeal tickets by mail, in person, or online.

If you have received a speeding ticket by mail, you can fight it with the help of a traffic lawyer who can argue your case in court. You will be presented with photographs of the violation and have the opportunity to present any information that challenges or mitigates the violation.

If you have received a parking ticket, you can request an appeal within 10 days of issuance. If you have lost the original ticket, you can make a written request within the prescribed time frame, including your name, address, tag number, and signature. Send this request by certified mail to the Office of Budget and Finance's Parking and Automated Enforcement Office.

If your vehicle has been booted, you must call the number on the boot notification or pay in person at the Abel Wolman Municipal Building. Do not pay online, as this may delay your car's release and it may be towed.

Warning periods for new cameras

Baltimore County uses speed cameras to encourage motorists to slow down in school zones where traffic data and citizen complaints show that speeding is a problem. The Safe Speed Automated Enforcement Program was authorized by the Maryland General Assembly under Maryland Transportation Article 21-809.

During the first 30 days after a camera is activated, motorists exceeding the speed limit by at least 12 miles per hour (mph) will receive warnings instead of tickets. After a speed camera has been in place for 30 days, citations will be issued to motorists traveling at least 12 mph over the speed limit.

Red light cameras are also in place at various Baltimore County locations. Warnings will be issued for 30 days following the installation of new red light cameras. After this 30-day warning period, violators will receive citations that carry a $75 fine.

In April 2022, the Baltimore City Department of Transportation announced that speed cameras on the Jones Falls Expressway (JFX) in Baltimore would launch with a 90-day warning period. During this time, motorists who exceeded the posted speed limit by 12 or more mph would receive a warning by mail. After the 90-day warning period, violators would have to pay a $40 fine.

Fines and penalties

Traffic camera infractions in Baltimore are civil citations that must be paid in full within 30 days of the violation notice date. Failure to pay a fine, request a violation review, or contest violation liability by the due date is an automatic admission of liability and may result in additional fees and/or penalties from the City of Baltimore and the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration until all charges are paid in full.

The fines for traffic camera infractions are as follows:

• Speed camera fines are fixed at $40 per infraction.
• Red light camera fines are fixed at $75 per infraction.
• Commercial vehicle height cameras issue a warning on the first offense, a $125 fine on the second offense, and a $250 fine on the third and subsequent offenses.

If you have three or more unpaid parking citations that are 30 days or older from the violation date, the City of Baltimore may boot or impound your vehicle.

If you receive a ticket, you can choose to pay or request an appeal by mail, in person, or online. If you wish to contest a citation because you were not driving the vehicle when the violation occurred, you must provide a signed affidavit stating that you were not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation and provide the name, address, and, if possible, the driver's license identification number of the person who was driving. This must be done within 30 days of the mail date of the citation.

Frequently asked questions