EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Pat Harrigan takes his fight against speed cameras nationwide
Rep. Pat Harrigan wants to cut federal support from liberal county that just added 140 new speed cameras
Rep. Pat Harrigan (R., N.C.) is taking his quest — first reported by the Washington Reporter — against speed cameras directly to one of America’s most liberal counties.
Following reports that Montgomery County, Maryland is adding 140 new speed cameras and 76 new red-light cameras, Harrigan renewed his push for his Freedom from Automated Speed Enforcement Act, telling the Reporter that, while “county officials will tell you this is about their ‘Vision Zero’ safety initiative, here’s what they won’t tell you: these cameras are revenue generators first, safety tools second.”
“Real traffic enforcement involves trained officers who can assess situations and use judgment, Harrigan explained. “These machines just automatically ticket anyone going 12 mph over the limit.”
In fact, as Harrigan noted, Montgomery County is introducing tiered ticketing systems based on how fast drivers are photographed. “They’re also raising fines beyond the old $40 flat rate — because apparently that wasn’t enough money,” he said.
Should Harrigan’s Freedom from Automated Speed Enforcement Act become law, jurisdictions like Montgomery County could be on the hook for millions of dollars — and Harrigan is happy with that.
“I introduced the Freedom from Automated Speed Enforcement Act to cut federal highway funding for jurisdictions that rely on these automated cash grabs,” he explained. “If Montgomery County wants to turn driving into a revenue stream instead of investing in real public safety, they shouldn’t get federal taxpayer support for it.”