Cities continue to rake in the cash with school zone speed cameras, a public-private partnership that draws the ire of the public in what seems like perpetuity.
The placement of privately-owned speed detection cameras in cities across the state continue to assist cities in generating revenue with little to no effort or investment.
How do they do it?
Passing off the responsibility to private for-profit businesses that fine drivers for otherwise criminal traffic offenses.
How School Zone Speed Cameras Work
The cameras may only be used in a school zone. There is no investment by the city or county, as the company installs the equipment.
Drivers who exceed the speed limit are captured on camera. Unlike red light cameras, which depict a picture of the driver, speed zone cameras snap a photo of only the license tag with a remotely operated device, which uploads to the private company’s database. A certified peace officer approves the violations based on the license plate capture and the private company issues a violation notice. Payment is collected and the city receives a check (usually 55-70%) and the private company keeps the rest.
Rules for violation times vary by jurisdiction. Some cities will issue violations all 24/7/365 while others limit the enforcement to school hours during school months.
The entire process is authorized under OCGA 40-14-18, which was approved via HB 978 in 2017. The law took effect on July 1, 2018.
How It’s Working in Southeast Georgia
Quite well, most would say, when considering the infusion of cash into small cities.
The Georgia Virtue filed a number of Open Records Requests across cities that utilize the cameras.
City of Richmond Hill
Population: 12,720
Size: 24.46 sq mi
Cost of Speeding Ticket: $100
Blue Line Solutions receives 35% of each fine amount with the City of Richmond Hill receiving 65%.
https://cdn.thegeorgiavirtue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/22101953/Richmond-Hill-Blue-Line-Solutions-1.pdf
City of Vidalia
Population: 10,409
Size: 18.26 sq. mi
RedSpeed, LLC receives 33% of each fine with the City of Vidalia receiving 67%.
https://cdn.thegeorgiavirtue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/22101951/Vidalia-RedSpeed-1.pdf
Read previous coverage on Vidalia’s use of the cameras.
City of Bloomingdale
Population: 2,715
Size: 14.05 sq. mi.
Violation Amount: $100 for 1st offense, $150 for subsequent
62.5% to the city and 32.5% to BLS. 5% of the revenue to the school system from its share, per a MOU signed between Bloomingdale and the Savannah-Chatham Public School System.
https://www.thegeorgiavirtue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bloomingdale-Blue-Line-Solutions-1.pdf
Read about Bloomingdale’s use of the cameras prior to March 2021.
City of Stillmore
Population: 530
Size: 3.2 square miles
Cost of Speeding Ticket: $196
Cost of School Zone Camera Violation: $75.00
RedSpeed, LLC receives 33% of each fine with the City of Stillmore receiving 67%.
Previous coverage on The Georgia Virtue on Stillmore’s
use of speed cameras in school zones.
Issues with Unmanned School Zone Speed Cameras
Because the infraction is handled under an administrative process, you have no right to face your accuser, as you do with moving violations, citations, and criminal offenses.
Calibration of Cameras and Equipment
Unlike handheld radars calibrated and tested before each use by law enforcement officers, speed cameras rely solely on a ‘self-check’ system. The company otherwise manually checks the calibration of the detectors once to twice annually. There is no guarantee the machine is operating accurately. The City of Hamilton recently dismissed month’s worth of citations after discovering the radar did not work properly.
Impact on Financed Vehicles
RedSpeed Georgia, Blue Line Solutions, LLC, and other similar companies have the ability to place a lien on the vehicle associated with the tag captured in the photo. Under the terms and conditions of most financed vehicles, a second lien on a vehicle impairs the security interest of the first lien holder – the financier – which can initiate the repossession process. That means your failure to pay a violation (not a moving violation or a citation) can trigger your vehicle being repossessed.
No Paper Records in the Possession of the Governing Body
The sophisticated system is external and cloud-based. Violators pay tickets directly to the private entity through an online porta visible by city police, the clerk of court, and the municipal judge.
Contracts outline that companies provide data to the city during ‘normal working hours’ with the exception of trade secrets and ‘information not reasonably necessary for the prosecution of citations.’ The companies are also allowed to charge the cities for the information, which would otherwise ‘belong’ to the city.
Affidavits for Dismissal or Civil Acquittal
Affidavits may be submitted if an individual requests a hearing in municipal court on the premise that the individual can suggest or prove another person was driving the vehicle at the time of the captured picture. Sworn affidavits, however, require a notary, which requires preparation ahead of court. Any other defense in a hearing in municipal court would require self-representation or representation by an attorney…for the violation of $75-$150. For most, that is not practical.
Data Collection
The companies provide no proof that the cameras are only collecting data of violators.
Access to Data
Motor vehicle databases and records accessed by the Georgia Department of Revenue are otherwise sealed from public record and available only by subpoenas from attorneys and other officers of the court. If a citizen or a member of the media wanted access to the database for any particular reason, the release of the data would be shielded under the Georgia Open Records Act. These companies have access to public safety databases, much like towing companies do. As a result, they act on behalf of the law enforcement agency.
Do you have a list of state lawmakers who are concerned enough about this to challenge it at the state level?
what’s interesting is the law caps the fine at $75, yet “CITIES” are fining people $100 instead of $75. Then they are tacking on an “Electronic Processing Fee” of $5 to the ticket. Then when the violator pays by card, which is the only option, Redline or Blueline are then charging a 3% card processing fee. Hmmm… Also what boggles my mind is why are these fines going to the cities, when they should be going to the schools for in the zones in which these cameras are located. How does a school camera help the school, it doesn’t, it helps the city….
Counties send this company hundreds of thousands when they could hire local people. 4 hours a day for a 100k+ job. Sign me up. Why not pay the police like servers $2.35 a hour and they get to keep 35 percent of every ticket they write. Ridiculous solution!
Think about it this way: would you rather the PD dedicate an officer to sit in a car throughout the day writing tickets, or would the city be better served by that officer out and about working on more serious matters like criminal behavior? In this day and time, most, if not all, law enforcement agencies are undermanned and forced to do more with less. If these cameras allow them to enforce speeds in school zones with automated ticketing while allocating manpower to other activities, I’d say the cameras help across the board. The revenue generated by the fines can only be spent on other public safety initiatives, like body cameras, vehicles, equipment, etc. Georgia limits the use of the speed cameras to school zones only…they can’t be utilized anywhere else. I’ve never understood arguments against cameras for any public safety purpose. If you’re speeding and you get a ticket, then don’t speed any longer and you have nothing to worry about. School cameras don’t help the school? Yes, they do! They ultimately force people to SLOW DOWN in school zones. That alone helps the schools. I’d love to hear ANY arguments against monitoring speeds in school zones.
The issue IS the camera. It self checks??? That is not a good system. There are NO calibration records and these camera have been repeatedly proven to be inaccurate. Speaking from experience, there are NO cops out on the streets patrolling in these towns in lieu of watching for speeders. This is solely a cash cow that has nothing to do with safety and there A LOT of people getting citations that are NOT speeding. Do some research.
We are having issues in Catoosa County. I’m a 2A activist so I guess I will add this to my list…
I have not had a speeding ticket in over 10 years.In the last few months I have gotten 2 from school zone cameras while in a Company vehicle .This would suggest I only speed while being paid by the hour to drive a Company vehicle when Im in school zones or theese are speed traps without sufficiant notice targeting company vehicles in which they will likely be paid with no questions or resistance.
Speed is posted 35 mph unless light is flashing then 25mph. Got a ticket even when the light was NOT flashing. Daughter got one on a Saturday. Just robbing people.