COTTAGE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT
It is the mission of the Cottage City Police Department to ensure safe passage on our municipal roadways to motorists and pedestrians alike. To help us reach this goal, the department employs both education to promote voluntary compliance and the fair, consistent and impartial enforcement of all traffic laws. Speed and Red Light Camera Automated Enforcement Programs are two of the tools utilized to fulfill our mission.
SPEED ENFORCEMENT
Speed enforcement signs are placed on each roadway where Automated Speed Cameras are being utilized. These cameras are operational 24/7, and citations are issued to vehicles traveling 12 or more miles per hour over the posted speed limit.
Speed cameras are currently deployed in the following locations:
- SW Bladensburg Road at 42nd Avenue
- 3550 SW Bladensburg Road
- NB / SB 38th Avenue at Parkwood Street
All captured violations are verified by a police officer prior to a citation notice being sent to the cited vehicle’s registered owner. The citation notice includes images of the cited vehicle, the capture date, time and location, the vehicle speed and instructions on how to pay for the violation or request a hearing date. Speed camera violations are classified as civil infractions, they are not reported to insurance carriers and do not assess points on a driver’s record.
Speed Camera System Program Administrator:
The Town of Cottage City Police Department Speed Camera Program Administrator is Acting Chief Thompson. Acting Chief Thompson oversees the Speed Camera Program as the Program Administrator. Following state law, Acting Chief Thompson must undergo minimum training every two (2) years.
Speed Camera System Program Ombudsman:
The Ombudsman is responsible for investigating and responding to all questions or concerns regarding the Town's speed camera system. The Ombudsman has the authority to review citations believed to be erroneous upon request from the individual who received the citation.
The Ombudsman's responsibility is to ensure that all review requests are answered in a reasonable time frame. To keep the scope objective for all review requests, the Ombudsman is not involved in the review and/or issuance of the initial citation.
To contact the Ombudsman, please email: Ombudsman [at] cottagecitymd.gov (Ombudsman[at]cottagecitymd[dot]gov)
SPEED CITATION PAYMENT INFORMATION: If you have a flag for Cottage City, please contact Municipal Collections of America at 877-751-7115
Information on the available channels to pay the fine amount is detailed on the citation notice and includes:
- Online Payment: https://secure.SpeedViolation.com.
- Major credit cards are accepted, and a credit card convenience fee applies.
- The Citation Number and Vehicle Tag Number from your notice are required to access the violation.
- Pay by Phone using the Phone Keypad:
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by dialing 1-833-252-1219
- Pay by Phone with a Live Representative:
- Available 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (EST), Monday through Friday
- Pay by Mail:
- DO NOT SEND CASH. Personal Check, Cashier’s Check or Money Order should be payable to: Town of Cottage City Photo Enforcement Program
- Effective March 1, 2026: Mail to: PHOTO ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM
P.O. Box 1127 GLENVIEW, IL 60025-8127
Walk -In Payments: You may pay your fine in-person at the Cottage City Police Department, located at: 3820 40th Avenue, Cottage City, MD 20722 between 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Only Money Orders are accepted, but a payment kiosk is available for Credit Card Payments.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What happens if I ignore the Violation Notice?
Failure to pay the civil penalty or to contest liability prior to the Due By Date on the Citation is an admission of liability and will result in late penalties. Continued failure to pay may result in the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) refusing to register or re-register the vehicle, and additional MVA fees may be assessed.
What if My Vehicle and/or license plates were stolen at the time of the violation?
If your vehicle and/or license plates were stolen when the infraction took place you should request an in-person hearing. Enclose a copy of the police report for the vehicle/plates with the request.
I wasn’t driving….what do I do?
If you are the registered owner and were not operating the vehicle at the time the violation was captured, you must Request a Hearing and send a letter to the District Court advising the person named on the citation was not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation. The Judge will enter a decision upon hearing your in person Court testimony.
If I have questions or concerns about these programs, who can I speak to in Cottage City?
Cottage City has a dedicated Ombudsman / Local Designee to hear and investigate complaints from private citizens. You may send a letter addressed to “Local Designee” at the Cottage City Police Department, 3820 40th Avenue, Cottage City, MD 20722.
If I pay the fine, can I then ask for a hearing?
No. Once you have paid a fine it is considered an admission of liability and requests to contest or schedule a hearing will not be granted.
If I pay the fine, will my insurance rates increase?
No. An admission of liability will not result in points and cannot be used to increase your insurance rates.
Isn’t it a violation of my privacy to have a camera take a photograph of my vehicle without my permission?
No. Individuals applying for a Driver’s License agree to abide by the established Rules of the Road. Speed and Red Light Enforcement Cameras only capture images of vehicles whose drivers have chosen to violate the established laws by speeding, and according to established Court doctrine, individuals who are breaking the law forfeit their privacy rights. At no time are the faces of the vehicle’s driver or occupants photographed.
Red-Light citations are issued to vehicles that:
- Enter an intersection against a solid red traffic signal OR
- Fail to come to a Complete Stop behind the white line before making a right turn against a solid red traffic signal.
Red Light cameras are currently deployed in the following locations:
- Bladensburg Road at 41st Avenue
- Bladensburg Road at 38th Avenue
All captured violations are verified by a police officer prior to a citation notice being sent to the cited vehicle’s registered owner. The citation notice includes images of the cited vehicle, the capture date, time and location, in addition to instructions on how to view the still and video violation images, pay for the violation or request a hearing date. Red-Light camera violations are classified as civil infractions, they are not reported to insurance carriers and do not assess points on a driver’s record.
RED LIGHT CITATION PAYMENT INFORMATION: If you have a flag for Cottage City, please contact Municipal Collections of America at 877-751-7115
Information on the available channels to pay the fine amount is detailed on the citation notice and includes:
- Online Payment: https://secure.redlightviolations.com/.
- Major credit cards are accepted, and a credit card convenience fee applies.
- The Citation Number and Vehicle Tag Number from your notice are required to access the violation.
- Pay by Phone using the Phone Keypad:
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by dialing 1-833-252-1219
- Pay by Phone with a Live Representative:
- Available 9:00AM to 4:00PM (EST), Monday through Friday
- Pay by Mail:
- DO NOT SEND CASH. Personal Check, Cashier’s Check or Money Order should be payable to: Town of Cottage City Photo Enforcement Program
- Effective March 1, 2026: Mail to: PHOTO ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM
P.O. Box 1127 GLENVIEW, IL 60025-8127
Walk-In Payments: You may pay your fine in-person at the Cottage City Police Department, located at: 3820 40th Avenue, Cottage City, MD 20722 between 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Only Money Orders are accepted, but a payment kiosk is available for Credit Card Payments.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What happens if I ignore the Violation Notice?
Failure to pay the civil penalty or to contest liability prior to the Due By Date on the Citation is an admission of liability and will result in late penalties. Continued failure to pay may result in the refusal or suspension of the motor vehicle registration applicable to the vehicle.
What if My Vehicle and/or license plates were stolen at the time of the violation?
If your vehicle and/or license plates were stolen when the infraction took place you should request an in-person hearing. Enclose a copy of the police report for the vehicle/plates with the request.
If I have questions or concerns about these programs, who can I speak to in Cottage City?
Cottage City has a dedicated Ombudsman / Local Designee to hear and investigate complaints from private citizens. You may send a letter addressed to “Local Designee” at the Cottage City Police Department, 3820 40th Avenue, Cottage City, MD 20722.
If I pay the fine, can I then ask for a hearing?
No. Once you have paid a fine it is considered an admission of liability and requests to contest or schedule a hearing will not be granted.
If I pay the fine, will my insurance rates increase?
No. An admission of liability will not result in points and cannot be used to increase your insurance rates.
Isn’t it a violation of my privacy to have a camera take a photograph of my vehicle without my permission?
No. Individuals applying for a Driver’s License agree to abide by the established Rules of the Road. Speed and Red-Light Enforcement Cameras only capture images of vehicles whose drivers have chosen to violate the established laws by speeding, and according to established Court doctrine, individuals who are breaking the law forfeit their privacy rights. At no time are the faces of the vehicle’s driver or occupants photographed.