Grace Period Ends for 2 New Speed Cameras in DC

WASHINGTON, DC — You better watch out, you better not cry -- because the grace period for a pair of new speed cameras in D.C. has ended, and you may get an unpleasant Christmas present in the mail soon if you aren't aware of them.

AAA Mid-Atlantic has announced that the 30-day warning period ends for speeders at the locations of two new cameras in Southeast: the 3000 block of Hillcrest Drive, and the 3100 block of Alabama Avenue. If you're driving more than 10 miles over the posted speed limit, those cameras will snap your picture and mail you a citation ranging from $50 to $300, according to a AAA statement.

The Metropolitan Police Department began mailing notices to violators at the stroke of midnight on Thursday, Dec. 15.

“Concerned about the impact of speeding motorists upon their lives and their children, neighbors and the civic association in the area have emerged as vocal advocates of traffic safety and for the implementation of traffic calming solutions, such as installing speed cameras and ‘Stop for Pedestrians’ signs, repainting crosswalks, and building speed humps,” John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs, said in the statement. “Area residents have also routinely called for increased police enforcement of traffic laws to compel motorists to obey the speed limit, which safeguards everyone in their neighborhoods.”

AAA says that a speed camera ticket is issued in D.C. once every minute, and that they brought in average revenue of $151,691 per day in fiscal year 2015 for a total of $55.3 million that year.

The posted speed limit at the locations of both new speed cameras is 25 miles per hour, so if you are going 35 or over, expect to see a bright flash in your rear-view mirror.

Most of D.C.'s speed cameras are on roads with posted 25 mph speed limits.

Image via Wikimedia user Bidgee