Unlike D.C., jurisdictions in Maryland are only allowed to operate speed cameras under relatively limited conditions. Given those conditions, the town of Laurel came up with a simple alternative—decoy cameras, reports NBC4:

The fakes look like every other mobile speed camera in Laurel, complete with police logo and camera lenses, but inside, they are empty.

Maryland law restricts most jurisdictions from putting speed cameras anywhere other than near schools, and they can only operate Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Laurel residents kept asking for more cameras in the neighborhoods, so Police Chief Richard McLaughlin had an idea.

“I purchased several decoy boxes,” he said. “They are the exact items we currently use for real speed cams but they’re empty.”

Cameras are in use in parts of Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, but fines and locations are limited by law. A recent NBC4 report found that the level of fines may be linked to deterrence: drivers in Maryland are more likely to be repeat speeders, while those in D.C., where they face much higher fines, aren’t.