Safe Speed Program

The Bowie Police Department is working to change driving behaviors in Bowie and gain more compliance with existing speed limits. Speed cameras are one of the tools being used to implement this program.

Use of Speed Cameras in Bowie

• In school zones Monday - Friday 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.
  (regardless of when school is in session)
• Locations to date:
  • Old Chapel Road near Samuel Ogle Middle School &
    Whitehall Elementary)
  • Race Track Road near Yorktown Elementary
    
  • 197 near Rockledge Elementary
  • MD 450 near Bowie High & St. Pius X Regional School
  • Northview Drive near Northview Elementary
  • Belair Drive near the Belair Annex to Bowie High
  • Kenhill Drive near Benjamin Tasker Middle School
    (new 2/6/12)
• Cameras triggered for vehicles exceeding speed limit by 12 or more mph.
• Civil citations, carrying a fine of $40.
• Citations will be mailed to vehicle owner

Program Description

The City of Bowie Safe Speed is a program run by the Bowie Police Department.  It is a safety program focused on changing driver behavior in school zones through a comprehensive effort involving engineering, education and enforcement.  The City of Bowie Safe Speed Program uses automated speed enforcement to enhance the safety of motorists and children in school zones within the incorporated limits of the City of Bowie.

The guiding principles are to:

• Clearly identify and effectively communicate speed-related safety problems to the public.
• Make automated speed enforcement sites visible to road users through signage and media outlets.
• Deploy automated speed enforcement in school zones where they fulfill a bona fide need.
• Ensure a fair program by deploying automated speed enforcement only after careful consideration and study.
• Determine the effectiveness of the program through continuous, ongoing evaluations.

How the Program Works

Automated speed enforcement systems are deployed at select school zones throughout the City of Bowie, Maryland and complement the existing speed enforcement efforts of the Bowie Police Department.  School zones must be within the incorporated limits of the City of Bowie with speed limits of less than 45 mph.

Automated speed enforcement systems are comprised of a speed measurement device, camera, and a computer.  Speed measuring devices identify motorists traveling 12 mph or more over the posted speed limit.   Cameras capture license plate images of violations and computers record all of the relevant data associated with the violation.

When a speed violation occurs, the automated speed enforcement equipment records the date, the time and the speed of the vehicle.

A citation that includes images of the violating vehicle is then mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.  Once the violator receives the citation, payment, request for appeal, or written correspondence can be mailed to the City of Bowie Safe Speed Program, PO Box 889, Bowie, MD 20718.

Paying Citation Fines
Appealing Citations, Disputes, etc.
How the Cameras Operate
More Questions and Answers about the Safe Speed Program