The Howard County Police Department is delaying the launch of its new speed camera program until Oct. 17, two weeks after originally planned.

"Police are finalizing plans and equipment to begin issuing warnings and determined an extra two weeks would be necessary before everything was in place," police department spokeswoman Elizabeth Schroen said Tuesday, Sept. 27.

In an earlier interview, police chief Bill McMahon said the department didn't want to launch the program until everything was ready to go.

"We want to make sure people know we're running the program as we said we would," he said.

Use of speed cameras was authorized by a state law passed in 2009 and a subsequent county law passed by the County Council in May.