Bowie, MD Mobility & Curb Rules: Red-Light Cameras (2026)
Key Facts
- Camera threshold
- 12+ mph over posted limit
- School zone hours
- Mon-Fri, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. only
- Other zones
- may operate 24/7
- Fine range
- $40 to $425 by speed tier
- Warning period
- first 30 days, warnings only
- Mailing deadline
- 2 weeks in-state, 30 days out-of-state
Summary
In the City of Bowie, the Police Department runs speed monitoring cameras in school zones and posted residential speed zones under Bowie City Code § 14-17B, mailing civil citations to registered owners caught going at least 12 miles per hour over the posted limit, with penalties running from $40 up to $425 depending on how fast the driver was going.
D. A speed monitoring system in a school zone may operate only Monday through Friday between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. A speed monitoring system in a location other than a school zone may operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week. ... H. Penalty. (1) Unless a driver of a motor vehicle received a citation from a police officer at the time of a violation, the owner or, in accordance with Subsection K(4) of this section, the driver of a motor vehicle is subject to a civil penalty if the motor vehicle is recorded by a speed monitoring system while being operated at least 12 miles per hour above the posted speed limit. (2) The penalty for a violation established by a speed monitoring system under this subsection shall be: (a) If the citation alleges that the driver of the motor vehicle exceeded the speed limit by between 12 and 15, inclusive, miles per hour, $40; ... (e) If the citation alleges that the driver of the motor vehicle exceeded the speed limit by 40 miles per hour or more, $425.
Full Breakdown
Section 14-17B lets the City Council designate, by resolution after notice and a public hearing, school zones within a half mile of any kindergarten-through-12th-grade school and speed zones on residential streets posted at 35 mph or less, matching the authority granted by § 21-809 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Before switching on a camera the City Manager must publish the location on the City's website and in a newspaper of general circulation, and every sign must state that a speed monitoring system is in use and meet the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices standard.
A school-zone camera may only operate Monday through Friday between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.; a camera outside a school zone can run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every device must pass an annual calibration check by an independent lab, and its operator, a Bowie Police Department representative or contractor, must complete manufacturer training and sign a daily set-up log. For the first 30 days after the City installs its first camera, the Department may send only warning notices, never citations. After that, a citation must be mailed within two weeks of the violation for Maryland-registered vehicles or 30 days for out-of-state vehicles, and only to the vehicle's owner except where the actual driver is identified.
A recipient can pay the penalty directly or elect a District Court trial, where recognized defenses include a stolen vehicle or plates, or proof the cited person was not driving.
Violations & Fines
Penalties climb with speed: $40 for 12-15 mph over, $70 for 16-19, $120 for 20-29, $230 for 30-39 and $425 for 40 or more, under § 14-17B(H)(2). The civil penalty is not a moving violation, carries no points and cannot affect insurance rates, but nonpayment lets the Motor Vehicle Administration refuse to register or suspend the registration of the cited vehicle under § 21-108 of the Transportation Article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in Bowie can speed cameras be used?
Do I get a warning before a Bowie speed camera ticket?
Can I contest a Bowie speed camera citation?
Sources & Official References
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