A local attorney is seeing red after he was ticketed twice on Connecticut Avenue by Montgomery County (web|news) 's speed cameras, and has decided to drive his case to court, seeking $20 million in damages.

Along Connecticut Avenue, the speed limit is clearly posted, along with the fact that there are speed cameras. Nonetheless, Montgomery County issues about 15, 000 thousand tickets a month. One local attorney has had enough.

Timothy Leahy knows the frustration of getting a speeding ticket in the mail all too well. He received not one, but two tickets on the same day. "I got one ticket headed northbound and a few hours later headed southbound."

But this Bowie attorney didn't just let it ride: he filed suit against Montgomery County. At issue is how the county pays the private vendor that maintains the cameras. "The law clearly says that you can't do it if the contractor operating the system gets a fee for [a] paid citation."

As it stands, every time the cameras flash and a citation is issued, the contractor gets a portion. County officials say they've done nothing wrong and operate the cameras legally. Nevertheless, they are revising their contract. "The county executive said months ago [that] he's looking to change to a flat fee."

But Leahy isn't the only driver who takes issue with tickets being issued by machines. "It would be fine if you could confront your accuser or see the officer who gets you, but you don't sometimes with the cameras."

County officials say that the money goes towards public safety and preventing the flash is as easy as letting off the gas. "We're all in a hurry. We all have busy lives, but you know what, we have to slow down."

Drivers in Montgomery County should know there are 30 fixed speed cameras and 90 mobile cameras; county officials say with so much success, the cameras are staying.