Okay, you would think after two times I would get it through my thick head, but no.  A little background.  Here in Montgomery County Maryland we are some sort of a test site for these speed cameras?  I would think our county is quite happy with their investment.  In about 6 months time they have generated around $2,000,000.00, yes million, in revenue for our county. I think I have personally been one of the major contributers to their test!!  A study seems to show that they do increase fender benders because everyone is so freaked out to not get a ticket they bump into each other.  At least no one is going too fast.

Okay, here is where I come in.  The first one was some guy in a van parked on the side of the road and a flash went off?  I said to my husband, I think I just got a ticket?  Sure enough about a week later a ticket with 3 photos of my car comes in the mail with a $40.00 fine.  I roll my eyes and send the check off.  Now the county has put in permanent cameras.  They are really nice though, they put up warning signs first to tell you that there are cameras ahead.   Then there are a total of 3 consecutive camera that are there to get you if you dare speed. 

 Next my funny friend calls my house one night spitting and swearing because she was just "flashed" by one of the sets of cameras.  I was kind of like yeah, yeah, I got one of those too.  A week later, I was showing townhomes near the same cameras that my friend got her ticket and warned my client.  "See those cameras right there, they are speed cameras, don't go too fast through here."  I warned her and good.  So, I finish showing my client, drop her off back at the office, drop her off to her car.  Next I have to go over to one of my listings to go over a contract.  I am driving over to my listing and all of the sudden I think "was that lightening?"  You guessed it, I just went through the EXACT same cameras I told my client to not speed through 30 minutes earlier!!  Sometimes I just wonder? 

About a week later, here comes another ticket!!  Do you think if I take a picture of the check and mail it back to them they would think that was funny?  

 
Post is included in group: Adventures in Real Estate

21 Comments on @#$%& I did it again!

FEB
07
2008
477,357 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog
OH my  Big brother is watching, and it now costs us money.  There ought to be a law against this.  I thought this was a free country?
7:24pm • #1
FEB
08
2008
152,049 Points 19 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router
Donald, It is a HUGE cash cow for the county.  My story just makes me laugh, 30 minutes after warning someone about the camera, I went right through it and got a ticket!!  We do have some adventures in our business.
8:22am • #2
144,510 Points 4 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Audrey,

Your post is quite entertaining.  But seriously, I really wish there were cameras every where my daughter drives. 

1:23pm • #3
152,049 Points 19 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router
Leslie, That is funny.  I be your daughter wouldn't like that.  I read where a driver got a ticket for 110mph in front of a school.  the dumb thing is the owner of the car does not get points because you cant prove the  owner was the driver.  I just laugh at myself for doing something so stupid!
2:16pm • #4
142,216 Points 29 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
After about 10 years of no tickets, a few months ago (during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season) I got two. One was for speeding and one was for not getting my new license plate sticker.  I have no good excuses, and they happened within a week of each other- not to mention- in the same town:-)
7:17pm • #5
FEB
11
2008
150,261 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Audrey - What a great story.  I've had two speeding tickets in the past two years...in exactly the same place less than a mile from my home.  I know an officer sits behind a fenced area near a park.  Do you think I remember all the time.  Well, at least twice I didn't.  Each time I was going just enough over the speed limit to get a ticket.  I went to traffic school each time so it wouldn't appear on my driving record.  /the ticket and cost of the traffic school each time was close to $350. 

Wow, I just did the math on the $2 million in revenue you mentioned.  At $40 per citation that's a boatload of tickets!

2:07am • #6
152,049 Points 19 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router
Marlene,  You have to laugh or you will  cry.  I guess we just get distracted and our minds wander.  I just cant believe I was telling my buyer 30 minutes prior to not speed through there and then here I do it!!  On this system they are using you don't get points because they cant prove who is actually driving the car.
9:30am • #7
FEB
17
2008
Okay, Speedy, join the ranks of people everywhere  in a hurry to get somewhere faster. I am fortunate we don't have the cameras here.....I'd be wanting to send in a photo copied check, too. Too true & too funny Audrey.
9:36am • #8
152,049 Points 19 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router
Bonnie, Honestly, I was just spitting nails when I got that ticket, 30 minutes prior I was telling my buyer not to speed through there because of the cameras!!  Do as I say not as I do!!
9:53am • #9
MAR
30
2008

 

   Don't get me started on my soapbox against @#%$ stupid cameras. I am with Donald on this one!

2:48am • #10
161,822 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Audrey, Funny post! I would say your mind is elsewhere!  I'm very thankful we don't have cameras here! I'd be in trouble all the time!  As Realtors, our minds are always going, don't you think?  Ask your CPA if it could be considered a tax deduction, LOL! Hang in there.  Elizabeth
8:10am • #11
152,049 Points 19 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Windy, since I wrote that article there are MORE cameras.  I will say that it has made me slow down in general.  Just make me crazy that the are everywhere!

Elizabeth, I agree, when I got the last ticket an agent had called me on one of my listings to write and offer and I guess I was so excited I didn't pay attention to my speed.  My husband always gives me the evil eye for my tickets, I just tell him I am helping the kids and their schools. LOL!  I did tell my husband I was going to ask the CPA if we could take deduction. LOL.

10:17am • #12
310,546 Points 8 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Audrey

I'll give it one more time, three strikes and your out And it is funny since it didn't happen to me

5:08pm • #13
APR
08
2008
Somehow it feels like cheating using cameras.  In California they use them at stop lights for people who go through the yellow.  Luckily, most itersections have signs that count down so you know when the light is going to change.  By the way, I hear people that you can use a plastic shield in front of the license that relects the flash and makes the license unreadable.  Don't know if it works.
5:24pm • #14
152,049 Points 19 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router
Geoff, I think it is cheating too.  I now have 3 tickets. My husband is not amused :) .  I just telling him I am helping the kids!!  I think there is some sort of spray that is clear, don't really think it works but we would be in bigger trouble if we got caught doing that? 
5:34pm • #15
131,801 Points 13 Featured Posts
Heck - for $40 you could run them all day. In our city we've got the stoplight cameras and it is $380 for the first ticket! My daughter got one a few weeks ago with this picture of her leaning forward looking right out her windshield at the camera as if to say - Who Me? Yeah, you. Here's yer ticket.
5:54pm • #16
152,049 Points 19 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router
Gene, That made me laugh, a really good laugh!!  That's funny, I don't who you are!  Wow, $380, yikes that is a lot!!  We need those here at the red light by my office.  Honestly, my light will be green and I could be in the middle of the intersection and people are STILL running the arrow!!  Thanks for the laugh!
7:04pm • #17
AUG
22
2008
3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Ours in the Toledo,OH area are mostly at busy intersections. I got it last year, or at least my CAR did. I SWEAR my husband was driving it. Or at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

1:10pm • #18
JAN
11
1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Slow it down, speedy! Thanks for sharing this funny story. ~Pat

9:46pm • #19
JAN
17
220,941 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Audrey- You are certainly helping the economy on Montgomery County. I guess they just fine you and not add points?

1:32pm • #20
JAN
28

My daughter recently got a camera ticket, but since her car is co-owned by her grandmother - guess who the ticket was issued to???? Yeah, Granny was a little angry...

12:03pm • #21

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Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD

Darnestown, MD

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RE/MAX Realty Group

Address: 6 Montgomery Village Ave, Suite 200, Gaithersburg , MD, 20879

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