Cheverly Replaces Optotraffic Speed Cameras

CHEVERLY--A speed camera company that pulled out of its contract with the town of Cheverly after complaints about its technology still operates programs in several local jurisdictions.

Cheverly has replaced speed cameras provided by Lanham-based Optotraffic with new cameras run by a different company.

Optotraffic, the contractor that operates the speed cameras in Prince George's County, College Park, New Carrollton, Brentwood, Forest Heights and Riverdale Park, ended its contract with the town of Cheverly after the town raised questions about Optotraffic technology this summer.

In a July letter to Optotraffic from Cheverly town administrator David Warrington, Warrington said an Optotraffic representative was "ill-prepared" at a meeting to discuss problems with the company's cameras.

The company had photographed drivers going less than the posted speed limit and captured images of bikes clocked at 57 miles an hour, according to the letter.

"Not only are the cameras still not functioning properly, they now are producing violations for invisible vehicles going 76 miles per hour... and bicycles going 38 and 57 miles per hour... [as well as] violations with just a part of a vehicle in only one photo," Warrington wrote.

After Optotraffic canceled its contract with Cheverly, the city employed Brekford, based in Hanover, to run its speed-enforcement program, the Washington Examiner reported.

The town released a statement noting that since the new contract began, 421 citations have been issued.

Representatives from College Park and Prince George's County could not be reached for comment about their contracts with Optotraffic. The company declined to comment.

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News & Politics

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• Traffic Enforcement Camera
• Optotraffic
• Prince George's County
• Speed Enforcement