Despite two potential bills challenging the current law in the last session, school zone cameras aren’t going anywhere, at least until the 2025-26 school year.
School zone speed cameras have been operating in Georgia since 2021 and the backlash has started to reach a boiling point in 2023. Even with Georgia lawmakers efforts to hear compliants about the cameras for years, their bills did not pass that would have restricted their operation.
The result is a growing frustration among Georgia motorists who feel they’ve been unfairly persecuted by these cameras. Some people have even reached the point where they have lost their vehicle because of the automated fines. All the while, private companies that operate the camera systems are seeing huge profits.
A recent report by an Atlanta news source says that in one small Georiga city of 111,000 people, 21 million in speed camera fines have been collected over 4 years. Wow! The city and the camera company, in this case Blueline Solutions split the revenue 65% / 35%. During the span of their deal it’s estimated that the company received over 7 million is payments from the city.
Even lawmakers who voted for it are not regretting their decision according to Atlanta News First.
““It’s a cash cow,” said state Rep. Dewey McClain (D-Lawrenceville). He supports banning the cameras or reforming the 2018 law giving cities the authority to use the cameras. This past February, McClain – who sits on the House Motor Vehicles Committee – voiced his frustration about inconsistencies on how the cameras are used throughout the state.”
“McClain said he voted for the legislation, “hook, line and sinker,” but now, “I look at the data and statistics and, and things of that nature, [and] I wonder.” “
He also notes that according to safety data, the speed cameras and egregious fines have not made any positive impact. Traffic pedestrian fatalities in the state of Georgia are up 31% and there’s been no significant change in deaths within the “school aged” category.
Now that the numbers are starting to come out it seems that speed zone cameras in school zones mostly benefit the bank accounts of the municipalities and the camera operator companies.
What do you think?
