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Residents Question Accuracy Of Bradley Boulevard Speed Camera

By WTOP Staff

This speed camera in the 5900 block of Bradley Boulevard has drawn the ire of nearby residents who accumulated a large amount of tickets in December

The complaints started flooding in a few weeks ago on a Bradley Boulevard neighborhood listserv.

Laurie Thomas said she got a citation from a speed camera in the 5600 block of Bradley Boulevard for going 42 miles per hour in the 30 mile per hour zone on Dec. 27.

Paula Spasaro said she got one for going 43 miles per hour on Dec. 30. “I was absolutely not going that fast,” Spasaro wrote.

Shaila Ohri said she got a citation from a camera in the 5900 block of Bradley Boulevard for going 43 miles per hour on Dec. 28. Jennifer Gaum said she got cited for going 42 miles per hour on Dec. 29. Vehicles traveling 12 or more miles per hour over the speed limit can be ticketed, according to state law.

They are a few of more than 15 residents who contacted BethesdaNow.com with citations for going 42, 43 or 44 miles per hour from the set of speed cameras on Bradley Boulevard near Huntington Parkway. Most deny they were going that fast, saying as residents they are well aware of where speed cameras are posted.

Some claimed the camera must have a glitch.

“There is either something wrong with the camera to have given so many tickets over the same timeframe,” Gaum said, “or people really do speed around there.”

According to Montgomery County Police Capt. Thomas Didone, Guam’s second theory is correct.

Didone, head of MCP’s Traffic Division, said all the department’s analysis of the cameras on Bradley checks out and he personally went out last week to take a look.

“We conducted our analysis and found that the cameras were operating correctly in all certifications and daily compliance logs have been completed,” Didone wrote in an email. “[I] witnessed that exceeding the 30 miles per hour speed limit was very prevalent.”

During December, MCP’s stats show about 127,000 vehicles passed the 5900 block camera, which recorded speeds as low as 8 miles per hour and as fast as 58 miles per hour. Of those, about 2 percent, or 2,600 vehicles, were identified as going 42 miles per hour or faster, earning citations.

The stats show the vast majority of those drivers (about 75 percent) were going 42, 43 or 44 miles per hour.

“So it is not unexpected that the people who contacted you displayed citations containing these speeds,” Didone wrote. “Our daily compliance tests and logs found that the equipment is operating with camera standards, so I am completely confident that citations are accurate and justly deserved.”

The discussion in the neighborhood has continued, with residents talking about how to protest.

Many said they don’t have time to go to court to appeal the $40 citation, which is a non-moving violation that goes unreported to insurance providers.

Other options include calling Montgomery County’s Automated Ticketing customer service field supervisor and getting records for a particular camera by sending a request to the Records Department at Montgomery County Police headquarters.

One resident even brought up another strategy — simply ignore the citation.

“Legally you do not have to respond, appear, pay or anything else. The only way you will ever hear anything about the ticket is if an officer shows up at your door with a summons for you to appear in court,” the resident wrote. “When you’re asked about the ticket you simply reply you never received a ticket, it must have been lost in the mail. Since most if not all local, city, county and state agencies do not send these types of tickets out via ‘certified mail’ there is no way to prove that you ever received it.”

She added, “Remember, these types of speed traps are a business.”

Police have repeatedly fought that school of thought and claim the speed camera program has significantly improved driving safety since it started in 2009.

As far as the controversial Bradley Boulevard cameras go, Didone said there’s no question a speed camera is warranted.

“Bradley Boulevard is a single lane, winding residential road with a speed limit I believe is appropriately set at 30 miles an hour because of the numerous driveways and roadways that access it and the limited sight distance because of the roadway design,” Didone wrote. “Speed cameras were placed at that location in response to citizen complaints and because our traditional enforcement was not effectively changing behavior.”

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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