Vehicle Height Monitoring
Manufacturing facilities and industrial centers attract high volumes of large commercial vehicles in many parts of the County. Commercial vehicle travel can be challenging for both vehicle operators and nearby residents when vehicles travel along roadways that were not designed to accommodate their weight capacity and size. This can create inconveniences for both parties. In response, the Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT) worked to pass legislation that authorizes the use of vehicle height monitoring systems to enforce state and local laws that already restrict the presence of commercial and large vehicles on specified residential roadways.
The vehicle height monitoring system is an automated enforcement tool that uses cameras and computer technology to capture (photograph and video) violations committed by drivers of commercial vehicles operating on roadways which are posted as “Truck Height 12 ft. Max Photo Enforced.”
Enforcement by vehicle height monitoring automated devices will begin in early 2023. View the Policy and Standard Operating Procedures for Notification of Vehicle Height Monitoring Systems.
The purpose of the Vehicle Height Monitoring program is to:
- Reduce high volumes of truck traffic in residential areas through the promotion of behavioral change among vehicle operators
- Improve the quality of life for Baltimore County residents, those conducting business in the County, and visitors to the County, by advocating for and maintaining a safe and orderly transportation system
Baltimore County’s Vehicle Height Monitoring Program is managed by:
- Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD)
- Office of Budget and Finance, Parking Automated Enforcement
- Office of Information and Technology (OIT)
- Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT)
The vehicle height monitoring system used is operated through a third-party vendor.
RESTRICTED ROADWAYS
Restricted roadways are segments of road, typically in residential areas, where large commercial vehicles are prohibited by law from traveling. Operators are in violation of restricted roadway regulation if they travel from one end of the restricted section to the other without making a local pickup or delivery along the way.
When there are complaints of commercial vehicle traffic in residential areas, DPWT conducts traffic studies onsite and analyzes those findings to determine if restricting the route is appropriate (as permitted by local, state and federal statute).
Enforcement of restricted roadways is difficult. The Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD) commits significant personnel to this effort, but BCoPD is faced with logistical barriers like managing the volume of vehicles and training field officers to verifying local delivery documentation.
In order to relieve the communities most burdened by truck traffic, vehicle height monitoring systems will be placed on some existing restricted roadways. This system will be able to handle significant volumes of illegal traffic, use consistent enforcement to promote behavioral change, and allow traffic specialists to review delivery documentation for legally operating vehicles.
CAMERA ENFORCEMENT LOCATIONS
Under Baltimore County Council Bill 92-21, the County may not operate more than seven vehicle height monitoring cameras at a single time. Cameras will be moved to specific locations throughout the County. All camera locations will be adequately signed. Signage will typically be displayed with the following warning: “Truck Height 12 ft. Max Photo Enforced.”
Cameras will be located around the following restricted roadways:
- 5000-5001 Benson Avenue (northbound and southbound) at I-695
- 500 North Point Road (southbound) at Eastern Avenue and 1101 North Point Road (northbound) at Merritt Boulevard
- 7900-7901 Wise Avenue (eastbound and westbound) at Lynch Road and 8800-8801 Wise Avenue (eastbound and westbound) at Grays Road
- 2900 and 3001 Sollers Point Road (northbound and southbound) at Merritt Boulevard
- 6801 Belclare Road (eastbound) at Dundalk Avenue
- 101 Avon Beach Road (eastbound) at Henry Street
- 3200-3201 Magnolia Avenue (eastbound and westbound) at Lilac Avenue
Cameras will be set to take a photo of the front of the vehicle to capture an image of the license plate. All cameras will be set at a height of 12 feet, with the exception of Benson Avenue, which will be set at 10 feet based on traffic patterns. There is potential for additional locations and placement shifts as the effectiveness of this program continues to be monitored.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Vehicle height monitoring cameras operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
QUALIFYING VEHICLES
The automated cameras will monitor vehicles over 12 feet high, with the exception of Benson Avenue, which will monitor vehicles over 10 feet high. Weight limits on each roadway will be increased from no trucks over three-quarter tons to no trucks over five tons. Commercial vehicles are permitted on the restricted roadways if and only when they are scheduled for deliveries along that roadway.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE EXEMPTIONS
Many vehicles are exempt from vehicle height monitoring enforcement, including but not limited to:
- School buses
- Public transit vehicles
- Emergency vehicles
- Trash and recycling trucks
- Utility and home energy vehicles
- Household goods moving companies
WARNINGS AND CITATIONS
Citations are issued by mail. For all in-state and out-of-state vehicles, a notice of violation (citation) will be mailed no later than 30 days after the alleged violation (date of the monitored violation). Notifications of violations (citations) are issued per location.
Within the first 30 calendar days of the installation of the vehicle height monitoring system at the designated locations, violators will be issued warning notices by mail and will not be subject to a fine or fee.
First offense violations are also issued a warning notice. Violations that occur after the 30-calendar-day warning period or after a first offense may be subject to a fine and fees.
- The fine for an initial violation is $125 and will be waived.
- The fine for a second violation without appearing in the District Court of Maryland is $125.
- The fine for a third violation is not to exceed $250.
- The fine for all subsequent violations will not exceed $500 per violation.
If the driver of the vehicle is not the registered owner, liability for the citation can be transferred from the owner of the vehicle to driver of the vehicle at the time of citation.
If you, the registered owner, wish to contest a citation because you were not driving the vehicle when the violation occurred, you must provide a signed Affidavit of Non-Liability stating that you were not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation and provide corroborating evidence, including:
- Name, address and, if possible, the driver’s license identification number of the person who was operating the vehicle at the time of the citation
- Citation number
- Vehicle tag
This must be done within 40 calendar days of the date of issuance, which can be mailed or emailed to the address on the citation.
PAY A CITATION
If you have received a citation, payments are due within 40 days from the date of issuance. Payment information is located on the back of the issued citation. You can pay via the following methods:
- Online
Pay citations online using a credit or debit card. A convenience fee will be charged for each transaction. - Mail
Send the Office of Budget and Finance a copy of your violation along with a check or money order payable to Baltimore County Maryland. Address the envelope to 400 Washington Avenue, Room 150, Towson, Maryland 21204. - In Person
Credit card, debit card, check, cash or money orders are accepted to pay violations in person. A convenience fee will be charged for each credit or debit card transaction. Payments can be made in person at the Historic Courthouse in the Parking and Automated Enforcement Office, located at 400 Washington Avenue, Room 150, Towson, Maryland 21204.
APPEAL A CITATION
If you were legally riding through a restricted area and received a citation, the citation can be contested and appealed. You can request a court date or citation review. The timeframe to request an appeal is within 40 calendar days from the date of issuance.
If you received a vehicle height restriction citation in Baltimore County that you believe was issued in error, the Vehicle Height Restriction Ombudsman Program provides you the opportunity to have your citation reviewed before you make payment or a request a court date. After conducting the review, the County will either uphold the original decision or void the citation.
To request a review of your citation, download and complete the Citation Review Form. Make sure to include:
- Your name
- Address
- Email,
- A daytime phone number,
- Citation number
- Bill of lading or documentation with date and timestamp to provide proof of delivery on restricted roadways
- Reason for your request
Email the completed form to citationreview@baltimorecountymd.gov or mail it to:
Citation Review Section
400 Washington Avenue, Room 149
Towson, Maryland 21204
All requests must be made in writing. No phone calls will be accepted. If documents are sent via email, an automated no-reply message will be sent confirming receipt of the documents with a date and timestamp.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Reviews can take up to 14 business days to complete. However, on occasion the process may exceed this time frame.
All decisions will be conveyed in writing. All decisions remain unchanged until a final review is conducted by the Citation Review Section.
If the citation is voided, the County will adjust all records accordingly. If the citation is upheld, you are expected to pay the fine or request a court date for further consideration.
You can request a court date to appeal your citation through the following methods:
- Appeal by Phone
To request a court date, call the Office of Parking and Automated Enforcement at 410-887-2777 to speak to a customer service representative. - Appeal by Mail
If you have misplaced the original ticket, you may make a written request which must be must be submitted within the prescribed time frames and must include your name, address, vehicle tag number and signature. Send the request by certified mail to:
Baltimore County Office of Budget and Finance
Parking and Automated Enforcement Office
400 Washington Avenue, Room 150
Towson, Maryland 21204
- Appeal in Person
To request an appeal in person, visit the Office of Budget and Finance's Violation Payment Office. To appeal in person, you may do so at the Historic Courthouse, located at 400 Washington Avenue, Room 150, Towson, Maryland 21204.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Once the appeal request is received, it will be processed. An acknowledgment letter will be issued within seven to 14 business days from the date of “Appeal: Court Date” request. The acknowledgement letter will include information regarding the hearing date and time.
Note: The date of the hearing may be three to six months from the date of the request for “Appeal: Court Date.”
If you appeal your citation in court, you will be presented with photographs of the violation. You will have the opportunity to present to the court any information that challenges or mitigates the violation. After reviewing all of the evidence, the court will make a decision.