MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Among the 140 new speed cameras that the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) first announced were coming back in the fall are six large, unusually shaped ones that have grabbed a lot of attention in recent days.
Made by Germany-based company Vitronic, the speed cameras are being compared in online chats to Tesla Cybertrucks or something out of Star Wars, among other things.
Mobile speed cameras in Montgomery County, Maryland, as seen on April 1, 2026. (Tom Roussey/7News)
Massive, high-tech, and built to withstand damage, these cameras are part of a major expansion of the county’s automated traffic enforcement program. They aren’t your typical roadside devices. Some are fixed in place, while others are mobile, moving between high-risk areas.
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MCPD, which oversees traffic cameras in the county, said the large speed cameras are mobile and replace a mobile speed camera setup that used to involve a van and an officer stationed nearby to monitor it. The new cameras don’t require an officer to be there to monitor them.
Officials said the cameras are designed not only to catch speeders but also to change driver behavior and improve safety.
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On its website, Vitronic called the technology the “Poliscan Enforcement Trailer,” and said it has “optimum protections against potential vandalism.”
Montgomery County police announced in September that they had signed a new contract with Vitronic that would bring 140 new speed cameras to the county. MCPD spokesperson Shiera Goff said just six of the 140 are the large mobile speed cameras. The others include 96 smaller portable cameras and 38 fixed-pole cameras for school zones.
In addition, the Vitronic contract included 76 new red light cameras.
According to the MCPD website, there are currently a total of 462 speed cameras managed by the police department in Montgomery County and 55 red light cameras.
The fines for getting caught by a speed camera in Montgomery County have a wide range: For going 12-15 miles an hour over the speed limit, they cost $40. For those 16 to 19 mph over, the cost is $70. For 20 to 29 mph over, it’s $120. For 30 to 39 mph, $230 and for going 40 or more miles an hour over the limit, the ticket costs $425.
Mobile speed cameras in Montgomery County, Maryland, as seen on April 1, 2026. (Tom Roussey/7News)
Fines can run even higher than that in work zones – up to $1000.
“These new cameras are built to last,” said Earl Stoddard, Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer. “We can actually tap into the cameras and see that they are operating in real time and make sure that they are operational. The glass in the front of them is actually ballistic grade glass because we had situations where previously people had vandalized cameras.”
Officials say the goal is more than issuing tickets — it’s about preventing accidents and saving lives. With more cameras rolling out across the county, drivers should expect to see these high-tech enforcers popping up at major intersections and other key locations in the coming months.
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