- A new bill in Georgia would remove speed cameras from all school zones statewide.
- Drivers say speed cameras issue unfair tickets, citing errors in calibration and timing.
- Opponents believe the cameras provide constant enforcement even without police.
Georgia lawmakers seem to have a bit of a short memory, as they now want to kill off speed cameras in school zones, less than a decade after they first authorized them. Back in 2018, the state gave the green light for these cameras, but only in school zones, for reasons that probably seemed reasonable at the time. Now? The same lawmakers are ready to backpedal. And while the bill has its detractors, it’s already breezed through the House.
Speed cameras are a sticky topic pretty much everywhere. In Georgia, complaints are reportedly flooding in over incorrectly issued tickets. Citizens claim that the cameras are citing them for driving over the speed limit even when school isn’t in session.
“The cameras are not calibrated and they are getting in at off times and at after school hours and people are getting tickets for speeding and they shouldn’t do that. That’s a big deal that’s coming up now,” said State Representative Brian Prince.
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The issue here? Calibration or lack thereof. Fixing this problem seems like a tough sell for some lawmakers, so instead, they’re opting for a simpler solution: get rid of the cameras entirely.
Since 2019, the cameras have generated over $112 million across 54 cities and counties, according to WANF-TV. However, Macon Republican Dale Washburn, sponsor of House Bill 225, claims the number is actually at over $200 million. And, of course, the companies running the cameras take their cut of that revenue.
“School zone cameras have generated more than $200 million at the expense of Georgia citizens,” Washburn wrote in a Facebook post earlier today.
“These camera companies are engaged in deceit and trickery,” Washburn told The Associated Press. “Their goal is to write tickets, not to enhance children’s safety.” Of course, not everyone feels that way.
A Mixed Bag of Opinions
On the other side of the debate, supporters argue the cameras are actually working. In Decatur, a local police chief claims speeding dropped by 92 percent in school zones after the cameras were installed. “We would not be able to get those reductions if it were not for the photo enforcement in school zones,” they said.
Here’s one more thing that might sound a bit wild. Bill 651 would stop the state from having the ability to block registration for people who don’t pay their fines. This sounds eerily similar to a bizarre situation in Maryland, where just three drivers racked up over 330 tickets and kept their driving licenses. Both HB 225 and HB 651 have passed the House, but they still need to clear the Senate before they can reach the governor’s desk.
Looks like this whole speed camera debate is far from over. And who knows—by the time it’s all said and done, Georgia might just find a way to keep the cameras, fix the calibration issues, or scrap the whole thing entirely. Stay tuned.