News Releases

County and State Leaders Highlight New Automated Speed Enforcement Laws Effective October 1 to Curb Excessive Speeding

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Gaithersburg, MD - Montgomery County and state leaders gathered in Wheaton to highlight two laws taking effect October 1 for automated speed enforcement. Together the enhanced penalties for dangerous speeders and focused enforcement on high crash roadways contribute to the Vision Zero Initiative to eliminate serious and fatal injury crashes.

“The math is simple; the higher the speeds the higher the injury whether you’re in a car, walking, or riding a bike,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The higher fines for drivers going 16 miles per hour or more over the speed limit and ability to place cameras on roads with the highest crash rates are major steps forward in our efforts to ensure everyone gets home safe. I want to thank Delegates Stewart and Solomon for championing these bills in the House and Senators Smith and Waldstreicher for getting them through the Senate.”

New Graduated Fine Schedule

Starting October 1, drivers exceeding the posted speed limit by 16 miles per hour or more past a speed camera will receive higher fines based on the travel speed. The base fine of $40 for speeds between 12 and 15 over the speed limit will not change.

Miles per hour over speed limit	Fines outside work zones, effective Oct. 1
12 to 15	$40
16 to 19	$70
20 to 29	$120
30 to 39	$230
40 or more	$425

 

“During the 2025 General Assembly session, we were able to pass multiple laws to support our Vision Zero commitment,” said District 18 Senator Jeff Waldstreicher. “We passed bills to enhance speeding penalties for super speeders, hold reckless drivers accountable through the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act, and stabilize the Transportation Trust Fund to keep investing in our roads. We are committed to working with local government, community partners, and our colleagues across Maryland to drive down the number of serious and fatal crashes that occur far too often in our state.”

Enabling legislation for placing speed cameras on high crash roadways

The County Government and municipalities in Montgomery County with speed camera programs will be able to place automated speed cameras on corridors identified in the Vision Zero Action Plan and the State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan identified as the highest risk for crashes. Previously, municipal and county programs were limited to school zones and residential zones with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or lower. In advocating for this law, the County found that 60% of its high crash roadways were prohibited by State law from deploying a proven safety tool.

“I am proud to work with Montgomery County leadership and my county colleagues in the General Assembly to ensure we can use proven safety tools where they are most needed,” said District 18 Delegate Jared Solomon, the lead sponsor for the corridor legislation. “Not only are we allowing municipalities and the County to expand the use of these safety tools, we are also requiring that any revenues collected beyond the program’s operating cost be invested back on safety improvements to those roads. Lowering speeds through improved enforcement and in the long term through roadway redesign will get us towards our shared Vision Zero goal.”

With the State law in effect, the County Council will need to pass enabling legislation before the County Police can place cameras in the newly authorized high crash corridors. The draft bill will be sent for Council’s consideration by the County Executive.

“Speed kills,” said District 6 Councilmember Natali Fani-González. “There have been far too many tragic collisions on our streets, and they need not have been deadly if everyone was moving slower. That’s why I am particularly proud of the work we are doing on automated enforcement and building safer infrastructure for everyone who is driving, biking, walking, and rolling.”

The same requirements for posting newly approved locations in a local newspaper and placing photo enforcement signs on the roadway are in effect.

“The Montgomery County Department of Police is proud to operate one of the most successful automated camera programs in the country,” said Chief Marc Yamada. “Independent studies have shown that our program changes driver behavior and reduces injuries. With the new camera fleet, we have the ability to study data and, where needed, place cameras on high-risk roadways.  This, along with the use of graduated fines, we are doubling down on our commitment to traffic safety. We will continue working closely with Montgomery County DOT and the State Highway Administration to advance comprehensive road safety measures with the goal of saving lives.”

# # #

Release ID: 25-465
Media Contact: S.D. Goff 
Categories: featured , press-conference