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While College Park officials once estimated a mid- to late-August arrival for the city's first speed cameras, they are now unsure when the devices will arrive but hope to have them early this fall.

The City Council voted unanimously on June 8 to establish speed camera zones in North College Park and surrounding the University of Maryland, College Park, but still needs permission from the state and Prince George's County to put cameras on state- and county-owned roads within the zones. Speed cameras photograph motorists who exceed posted speed limits by 12 mph or more, and offenders are fined $40. Their introduction would begin with a 30-day period in which warnings are issued rather than fines.

The council sent formal requests on July 21 to the State Highway Administration and county Department of Public Works and Transportation, but have yet to hear back from either agency, said City Manager Joe Nagro. State law requires that the agencies respond within 60 days.

"August is always a tough month [due to many employees taking vacations]," Nagro said. "Hopefully in September we'll get something back. We may try to see if there's any movement on their part, but we won't contact them until September."

With state approval, the city would be able to post cameras, provided by Lanham-based camera vendor Optotraffic, along state-owned Route 193 in the North College Park zone and on Route 1 within a half-mile of the university. With county approval, the city could post cameras on Rhode Island Avenue in the North College Park zone, a half-mile radius that includes Hollywood Elementary and Berwyn Christian schools.

"They'll be placed in areas where we've identified a problem with speeding and hopefully they will reduce those problems," said Councilwoman Christine Nagle (Dist. 1), adding that the mobile cameras would likely be switched to new areas along the roads if they prove successful.

While the cameras on Route 193 and Rhode Island Avenue would operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, any cameras on Route 1 near the university would run during those same hours seven days a week. State legislators passed a law in May that allowed for cameras within a half-mile of universities in Prince George's County, but did not place a restriction on their hours of operation.

SHA spokesman Charlie Gischlar said the state will almost certainly approve cameras near UM, but still has to ensure they are in the appropriate zone and don't interfere with nearby utilities.

"We're working with the city officials and our office of traffic," Gischlar said, adding that the state has approved similar requests in Baltimore County this year. "They're checking the guidelines now, just to make sure we have our i's dotted."

The county's process may be less clear, as it has yet to approve a camera request this year, said public works spokeswoman Susan Hubbard. In January, County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) nixed county plans to install as many as 100 cameras in school zones this year, arguing the proposal was too unpopular with residents.

Hubbard said the county is still reviewing the city's request and would not comment on the likelihood of its approval, but said the county is still hoping to reserve many of its roadways for eventual county-owned cameras.