The City of Takoma Park will implement an innovative stop sign camera enforcement program beginning in early 2026. The four-year pilot program was authorized through the Maryland General Assembly, SB0600, (https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0600E.pdf) and approved by the Takoma Park City Council.
Per Takoma Park Police: The pilot program targets school zones and aims to enhance pedestrian safety as part of the City’s commitment to Maryland’s Zero Deaths campaign and Montgomery County’s Vision Zero initiative. Highlighting the problem city officials are working to solve, a pilot study at dozens of Takoma Park intersections found there were thousands of daily violations, with violation rates reaching 87% at some locations.
“We are pleased that Takoma Park was selected for this four-year pilot program. The pilot program, which targets school zones, will enhance the safety for our children attending Takoma Park schools. Safety is our priority, and this technology strengthens our efforts to prevent crashes and save lives,” said Chief Antonio DeVaul.
Obvio has been selected as the vendor to support this project. You can learn more about the company and its LetsDriveSafer program at www.obvio.ai. Their mission is straightforward: they believe traffic deaths are preventable, and they are building the technology to help make that a reality.
Obvio develops automated safety systems designed to measure, educate, and enforce against unsafe driving behaviors. Their cameras can identify driving patterns throughout communities, increase awareness through public education campaigns, and use automated enforcement to curb the most dangerous behaviors—the kind that make us uneasy when walking our children across the street.
Their real-time, vision-powered detection technology provides a high level of transparency and insight. With Roadway Insights, public safety leaders can proactively diagnose and address roadway issues rather than relying solely on complaints or crash data. Automated enforcement offers fair, consistent, and unbiased deterrence, with a strong emphasis on transparency and community-focused solutions.
Key Aspects of the Program
LetsDriveSafer, powered by Obvio Inc., combines advanced, secure technology with community-focused engagement. A few notable highlights of the program include:
● Privacy-first focus: Cameras will process video on-device and automatically deletes non-violations within hours, only uploading verified violations rather than continuous footage
● Ethical, fair enforcement: Distinguishes between cautious rolling stops and dangerous blow-throughs, enabling smarter enforcement
● AI-detection aided by PD Review: The initial detection is powered by AI, but every citation will be reviewed & approved by the trained staff of the Takoma Park Police Department, prior to mailing
● Transparency & Clarity: Clear reporting & dashboards on behavior change, violation patterns, peak times, and trends.
Implementation Timeline and Locations
The 30-day grace period for locations listed below will begin on Monday, December 8, 2025. The issuance of citations will begin on January 8, 2026.
- Maple Ave, NE at Lincoln Ave
- Maple Ave, SW at Lincoln Ave
- Lincoln Ave, NW at Maple Ave
- Fenton St, SE and Takoma Ave
- Takoma Ave, SW at Fenton St
- Flower Ave, NE at Jackson Ave
- Flower Ave, SE at Jackson Ave
- Glenside Dr, SE at Jackson Ave
- Glenside Dr, NW at Anne St
- Takoma Ave, NE at New York Ave
*The remaining installations are expected to be completed before December 19 and include a 30-day warning period:
- Sligo Mill Rd at Orchard Ave NE
- Anne St at Hammond Ave NE
- Anne St at Hammond Ave SW
- Lincoln Ave at Jackson Ave NW
- Erskine St EB at 13th Place
- Erskine St WB at 13th Place
- Glenside Dr NWB at Anne St
- Wildwood Dr and Jackson Ave NW
