The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) did not always ensure it had received all the speed cameras it was billed for before paying the bill, according to a newly-released report from the Office of the Montgomery County Inspector General (OIG).
The OIG’s 17-page report also noted that the police department does not have written policies and procedures governing the daily required tests of speed cameras. Also, the department did not monitor performance metrics outlines in the contract, thereby potentially overpaying for the speed cameras.
This review was predicated on findings from a Fiscal Year 2024 OIG audit of MCPD that evaluated the oversight and processing of billings associated with the deployment of red-light cameras. In that audit, the OIG noted that MCPD was not confirming the accuracy of invoices prior to payment and lacked essential policies.
The new report noted that problems remain and that the police department still was not consistently confirming the accuracy of invoices prior to paying them and did not have written policies and procedures governing key aspects of their processes. The OIG also found that MCPD was not monitoring contractor performance metrics that are outlined in their contract.
The OIG report lists three recommendations. First, the police’s Automated Traffic Enforcement Unit (ATEU) needs to develop and implement policies and procedures to document the process for confirming the number of speed cameras in operation during one month.
Secondly, the OIG recommended that MCPD develop and implement policies and procedures to confirm the number of speed cameras billed on monthly invoices and to ensure daily self-tests of speed cameras are completed.
Also, the OIG recommended that the MCPD monitor and enforce performance metrics outlined in the automated traffic enforcement contract.
Rich Madaleno, Montgomery County’s Chief Administrative Officer, responded to the report, noting that he agreed “there are opportunities to improve contract and program administration processes,” adding that there is a problem with staffing and resources for this.
In his letter, Madaleno wrote that he concurred with all three recommendations.
During FY 2023, the County paid the contractor $5,832,170 for operating costs related to more than 90 speed cameras in the county.
