ROCKVILLE, Md. - Montgomery County (web | news) is asking the Maryland's highest court to review the case of four on-duty police officers who were caught driving over the limit by speed cameras.

"They should pay just like we do," said motorist Doris Waters. "We get caught, we pay."

A lower court ruled the officers didn't have to pay the fines, because there is no clear police department policy about it.

"It would be unreasonable if they were speeding going to a call and had to be speeding," County Council President Phil Andrews said. "But if they are going along normally and they speed then it is reasonable to hold them accountable if we're going to hold anyone else accountable."

The Fraternal Order of Police, which represents county police officers, supports the lower court decision.

The group issued a statement Monday, saying: "The county did not follow the law when it attempted to transfer liability from itself as a vehicle owner to the each individual officer as the vehicle driver."

Amy Baughman says she's on the fence about ticketing police.

"Police officers do a lot for us and I think they put up with a lot of garbage that we don't necessarily know about," she said.

One resident who says he's received numerous speed camera tickets says the lower court's ruling doesn't make sense. Kal Varna says if he has to pay, anyone who gets caught speeding should pay.

"I would be OK if they will not be held up for paying those tickets, but I'd be happy if they [stopped adding these cameras] everywhere," he said.

Montgomery County is the only area of the Free State that currently has speed cameras. But that changes Thursday, when other jurisdictions begin installing them.

What happens with this case will likely set a precedent for police departments through the rest of the state.

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