The private companies which hold the contracts for speed cameras used to generate revenue in school zones have contributed heavily to elected officials and their committees in Georgia. An accounting of contributions reveals the two leading companies in Georgia have funneled at least $588,000 in political contributions since the law took effect in 2018.
Background on Cameras
These particular speed cameras can only be used in a school zone. Drivers who exceed the speed limit during school zone hours or by 10 mph during any other period 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. The private company issues a violation notice, collects the payment, and sends a split to the municipality or county.
The violation is not a criminal violation but rather a civil matter handled nearly entirely without law enforcement with ultimate repercussions including a vehicle lien by the Georgia Department of Revenue. A certified peace officer must approve the violations within 60 days of the image capture and the signature of that officer, the badge number, and the government entity logo appear on the Notice of Violation sent to the vehicle owner. The individual then has 35 days from the issue date of the violation to pay the fine.
There is no initial investment by the city or county when these cameras are instituted and the private companies recoups its costs via the percentage split as outlined in a multi-year contract. In many cases, the revenue totals tens of thousands of dollars a month.
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.
But the cameras have drawn ire from some for a number of reasons ranging from equipment calibration to public records retention to constitutionality. Unlike devices used by sworn officers, the equipment is not frequently calibrated to ensure accuracy. Sometimes calibration occurs only once or twice per year. The contracts outsource the recordkeeping of public records and the burden is placed on the individual to prove they were not driving the vehicle at the time of the violation, instead of the on the issuer of the violation.
Read more on the school zone speed cameras here.
A Powerful Lobby In Favor of Cameras
Like many things under the Gold Dome, unmanned speed cameras have a powerful group of supporters advocating for their use. RedSpeed Georgia LLC and Blue Line Solutions, the two leading companies in Georgia for speed camera installation, have both donated heavily to lawmakers and public officials.
Additionally, thanks to the revenue generated locally because of the cameras, the Georgia Sheriff’s Association and the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police have opposed repeal of the legislation.
A complete list of itemized contributions by company and year is at the bottom of the article.
Topping the list in contributions received between 2019 and 2024:
| $180,000 | Georgia House Republican Trust (Assists with funding campaigns for Republicans in GA House) |
| $176,000 | Lt Gov Burt Jones & the WBJ Leadership Committee (for Jones’ campaign efforts) |
| $85,000 | Georgia Republican Senatorial Committee (Assists with funding campaigns for Republicans in GA Senate) |
| $10,500 | Rep. Alan Powell |
| $10,000 | Kemp and Georgian’s First Leadership Committee (for Kemp) |
| $9,050 | Fmr Speaker David Ralston |
| $5,300 | Sen. Matt Brass |
| $5,000 | The Georgia PAC |
| $5,000 | Fmr Lt. Gov Geoff Duncan |
| $4,500 | Sen. Blake Tillery (Sen. Appropriations Chairman) |
A Movement to Repeal Ahead?
State Representative Dale Washburn said recently that he plans to take on the controversial cameras in the upcoming term. Lawmakers are set to return to Atlanta on January 12 for the 2025-26 legislative session.
On his Facebook page, Washburn said recently:
“After hearing from many of my constituents in Middle Georgia, I will continue to work to put an end to automated school zone speed cameras next year. These cameras have unfairly issued thousands of speeding citations across Georgia, resulting in more than half a million dollars in fines being returned to drivers. If approved, my proposed bill will overturn the 2018 law allowing school zone tickets to be issued by machines. This system was designed to rake in vast sums of money and is wrong. It’s time for us to do something to protect the citizens of Georgia from this.”
In the comment section, Washburn noted that a local newspaper in his jurisdiction reported that Macon-Bibb County has received over $6 million from the cameras.
Notably, Washburn accepted a campaign contribution from RedSpeed Georgia, LLC in 2021.
Cameras Not a Good Fit For All
Emanuel County Sheriff Jeffrey Brewer has been outspoken about the use of the cameras, saying publicly “I am opposed to unmanned speed zone cameras. I believe these atrocities violate your Constitutional right to face your accuser and take away the presumption of innocence. These devices are for nothing more than generating revenue.”
Similarly, Butts County Sheriff Gary Long criticized the use by the City of Jackson saying “I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Georgia. It is my opinion that a third-party entity mailing citations for speeding when not sworn in by my office is unconstitutional.
2024 Contributions
| 2024 RedSpeed Georgia LLC | ||
| $100,000 | Georgia House Republican Trust | 10/16/24 |
| $100,000 | WBJ Leadership Committee Inc (Lt. Gov Burt Jones) | 6/17/24 |
| $25,000 | Georgia Republican Senatorial Committee | 10/11/24 |
| $3,300 | Sen. Matt Brass | 10/25/24 |
| $3,300 | Sen. Greg Dolezal | 10/11/24 |
| $3,300 | Rep. Rick A. Williams | 7/22/24 |
| $3,300 | Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick | 5/13/24 |
| $3,300 | Rep. Derrick Mccollum | 5/10/24 |
| $3,300 | Sen. Elena Parent | 5/16/24 |
| $3,300 | Sen. Ben Watson | 5/20/24 |
| $2,000 | Sen. Brandon Beach | 10/22/24 |
| $2,000 | Rep. John Carson | 10/11/24 |
| $2,000 | Rep. Alan Powell | |
| $1,800 | Rep. Kenya Wicks | 6/11/24 |
| $1,800 | Rep. Steven Sainz | 6/8/24 |
| $1,800 | Sen. Iris Hamilton | 5/30/24 |
| $1,800 | Rep. Tanjaneca Herring | 5/30/24 |
| $1,800 | Rep. Steven Sainz | 5/16/24 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Blake Tillery | 11/6/24 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Scott Hilton | 11/1/24 |
| $265,100 | ||
| 2024 Blue Line Solutions | ||
| $25,000 | Georgia Republican Senatorial Committee | 8/30/24 |
| $15,000 | Georgia House Republican Trust, Inc | 10/15/24 |
| $1,000 | Sen. John Albers | 10/4/24 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Clint Dixon | 10/4/24 |
| $1,500 | Rep. Alan Powell | 9/16/24 |
| $43,500 |
2023 Contributions
| 2023 Redspeed Georgia | ||
| $50,000 | Georgia House Republican Trust | 12/1/23 |
| $50,000 | WBJ Leadership Committee Inc (Lt. Gov Burt Jones) | 6/29/23 |
| $10,000 | Georgia Republican Senatorial Committee | 6/30/23 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Vance Smith | 5/31/23 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Sam Watson | 1/31/23 |
| $112,000 |
| 2023 Blue Line Solutions | ||
| $25,000 | Georgia Republican Senatorial Committee LC | 8/30/23 |
| $10,000 | Georgia House Republican Trust Inc. | 7/24/23 |
| $5,000 | Georgians First Leadership Committee (Kemp) | 8/7/23 |
| $5,000 | WBJ Leadership Committe (Lt Gov. Burt Jones) | 9/18/23 |
| $2,000 | Rep. Jason Ridley | 8/19/23 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Randy Robertson | 11/6/23 |
| $1,000 | Rep. John Burns | 10/05/23 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Steve Gooch | 10/1/23 |
| $1,000 | Sen. John F Kennedy | 9/18/23 |
| $1,000 | Rep. J. Collins | 7/25/23 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Houston Gaines | 7/22/23 |
| $500 | Rep. Lauren McDonald | 11/14/23 |
| $500 | Sen. Kim Jackson | 10/25/23 |
| $500 | Rep. Trey Rhodes | 10/19/23 |
| $500 | Sen. Chuck Payne | 9/22/23 |
| $500 | Sen. Russ Goodman | 9/11/23 |
| $500 | Rep. Reynaldo Martinez | 7/14/23 |
| $500 | Rep. Marcus Wiedower | 8/10/24 |
| $56,500 |
2022 Contributions
| 2022 Redspeed Georgia | ||
| $10,000 | WBJ Leadership Committee Inc (Lt. Gov Burt Jones) | 10/14/22 |
| $5,000 | Lt. Gov Burt Jones | 4/27/22 |
| $3,000 | Lt. Gov Burt Jones | 5/12/22 |
| $2,600 | Lt. Gov Burt Jones | 5/12/22 |
| $1,500 | Rep. Houston Gaines | 10/28/22 |
| $500 | Rep. Gerald Greene | 11/4/22 |
| $500 | Rep. Scott Hilton | 11/7/24 |
| $500 | Rep. Deborah Silcox | 11/1/22 |
| $500 | Rep. Tyler Paul Smith | 10/27/22 |
| $500 | Rep. Bruce Williamson | 10/27/22 |
| $750 | Rep. Micah Gravley | 1/7/22 |
| $25,350 |
| 2022 Blue Line Solutions | ||
| $3,000 | Rep. Alan Powell | 9/12/22 |
| $3,000 | Speaker David Ralston | 10/24/22 |
| $6,000 |
2021 Contributions
| 2021 RedSpeed Georgia | ||
| $5,000 | The Georgia PAC | 1/4/21 |
| $5,000 | Georgia House Republican Trust, Inc. | 10/7/21 |
| $2,800 | Speaker David Ralston | 1/7/21 |
| $2,050 | Speaker David Ralston | 9/17/21 |
| $2,000 | Rep. Alan Powell | 7/20/21 |
| $2,000 | Sen. Blake Tillery | 1/8/21 |
| $1,500 | Sen. Blake Tillery | 9/8/21 |
| $1,500 | Rep. John Carson | 1/9/21 |
| $1,500 | Rep. Richard Smith | 1/7/21 |
| $1,500 | Rep. Jan Jones | 1/7/21 |
| $1,500 | Rep. Micah Gravley | 1/8/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Trey Rhodes | 1/6/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Alan Powell | 1/5/21 |
| $1,000 | Lt. Gov Burt Jones | 4/16/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Jon Burns | 1/6/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Jon Burns | 10/5/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Chuck Efstration | 1/7/21 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Tyler Harper | 1/5/21 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Bill Cowsert | 1/5/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. John Corbett | 1/6/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Matt Hatchett | 1/6/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Chuck Martin | 1/7/21 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Butch Miller | 1/8/21 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Matt Brass | 1/8/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Dominic LaRiccia | 1/5/21 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Mike Dugan | 1/4/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Trey Kelley | 1/4/21 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Matt Brass | 8/26/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Matt Hatchett | 9/8/21 |
| $1,000 | Rep. Jan Jones | 9/1/21 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Brandon Beach | 1/5/21 |
| $1,000 | Sen. John F. Kennedy | 1/5/21 |
| $750 | Sen. Jason Anavirtarte | 1/5/21 |
| $750 | Sen. Clint Dixon | 1/8/21 |
| $750 | Sen. Russ Goodman | 1/4/21 |
| $750 | Sen. Bo Hatchett | 1/4/21 |
| $750 | Sen. Billy Hickman | 1/7/21 |
| $750 | Rep. Clay Pirkle | 1/7/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Rick Jasperse | 7/13/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Chuck Martin | 10/1/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Dale Washburn | 7/19/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Rick Williams | 10/12/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Jason Ridley | 7/6/21 |
| $500 | Sen. John Albers | 1/5/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Kasey Carpenter | 1/8/21 |
| $500 | Rep. John LaHood | 1/7/21 |
| $500 | Sen. Dean Burke | 1/7/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Mark Newton | 1/8/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Lee Hawkins | 10/31/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Shaw Blackmon | 9/21/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Jan Jones | 10/1/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Bruce Williamson | 7/1/21 |
| $500 | Rep. Mandi Ballinger | 1/6/21 |
| $250 | Rep. Ginny Ehrhart | 7/6/21 |
| $250 | Rep. Tyler Paul Smith | 7/7/21 |
| $250 | Rep. Jan Jones | 10/1/21 |
| $250 | Rep. Sharon Cooper | 7/20/21 |
| $250 | Rep. Sharon Cooper | 7/20/21 |
| $200 | Speaker David Ralston | 9/17/21 |
| $60,800 |
| 2021 Blue Line Solutions | ||
| $1,000 | Rep. Alan Powell | 1/5/21 |
| $1,000 | Speaker David Ralston | 1/7/21 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Chuck Payne | 11/4/21 |
| $1,000 | Sen. Randy Robertson | 6/28/21 |
| $4,000 |
2020 Contributions
| 2020 Redspeed Georgia | ||
| $5,000 | Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan | 12/18/20 |
| $5,000 | Gov. Brian Kemp | 12/9/20 |
| $1,500 | PSC Commissioner Jason Shaw | 11/23/20 |
| $750 | Rep. Sam Watson | 12/11/20 |
| $12,250 |
2019 Contributions
| 2019 RedSpeed Georgia | ||
| $2,500 | Advance Georgia,Inc | 12/16/19 |
