SAVANNAH, GA (November 3, 2022): The school zone speed enforcement warning period, which ends today, resulted in a 59 percent decrease in speeding in Savannah school zones.
Automated school zone speed cameras were placed in 10 school zones in the City of Savannah. The 30-day warning period began Oct. 5. Citations will begin to be issued starting Nov. 4.
“In just the one-month warning period, we have already seen great results,” Assistant Chief Robert Gavin said. “This is exactly the effect we were looking for – to make drivers more cognizant of their speeds and to keep children safe as they travel to and from school. We expect to continue to see drops in the number of speeders as time passes. Our goal is to see no citations written.”
Shuman Elementary saw the highest reduction in speeding with an 89 percent decrease, followed closely by an 84 percent decrease at White Bluff Elementary and 83 percent decrease at Myers Middle. Overall, 4,083 warnings were written during the warning period.
Cameras are currently in the following school zones: Garrison School of the Arts, Largo-Tibet Elementary, Myers Middle School zone on Tibet Avenue and the school zone on 52nd Street, Savannah Classical Academy, Savannah High, Shuman Elementary, Susie King Taylor Community School, White Bluff Elementary and Windsor Forest Elementary. More cameras in additional school zones are in the process of being added in the near future.
The cameras will be used to identify any vehicles traveling over the approved speed limit. Anyone in the designated school zone driving 11 mph or more over the posted speed limit will receive a citation in the mail. This means that if the flashing light speed limit is 25 mph, the driver will be given a ticket at 36 mph. Once the lights turn off, the speed limit may rise to 35 mph, and you would be ticketed at 46 mph.
Question: Why were the Speed Zone Cameras installed?
Answer: Savannah Police began conducting School zone speed
studies in May of 2020 to determine if there was a need for an automated speed
enforcement program. The purpose of the program was to reduce the number of
speeding vehicles traveling through school zones, thus reducing the likelihood
of crashes, or injuries, especially those involving children. This extensive
program emphasizes safety, education, and information components not usually
utilized in photo-speed enforcement programs, with the goal of slowing down
motorists and making school zones safer. City Council agreed with the need to
make school zones safer and approved the school zone camera program in January
2021.
Question: Were there an excessive number of speeders in
Savannah school zones?
Answer: The numerous speed studies conducted showed
excessive speeding 11+MPH above the speed limit. Our goal is to change driver
behavior and slow them down.
Question: Where are the cameras located?
Answer: In school zones that are clearly marked with
signage that the school zones are monitored, and speed limits are enforced by
automated speed enforcement technology. It should be assumed that automated
speed enforcement technology is monitoring all school zones.
Question: Will I be ticketed for traveling 1 or 2 miles per
hour over the posted limits?
Answer: Any speed above the posted speed limit in a school
zone is a violation and can and will be enforced by the Savannah Police
Department.
For the school zone camera enforcement, Georgia state law only allows
automated citations issued in school zones to be issued to drivers exceeding
the speed limit by 10 or more miles per hour.
Question: What are the hours of enforcement and what speed
limits are enforced when?
Answer: School zone hours are posted and marked at each school.
During school zone hours, reduced speed limits are enforced. The posted speed
limits will also be enforced with photo speed enforcement throughout the entire
school day or when children are present.
(a)(1) The speed limit within any school zone as provided for in Code
Section 40-14-8 and marked pursuant to Code Section 40-14-6 may be enforced by
using photographically recorded images for violations which occurred only on a
school day during the time in which instructional classes are taking place and
one hour before such classes are scheduled to begin and for one hour after such
classes have concluded when such violations are in excess of ten miles per hour
over the speed limit.
H.B. 40-14-18 Section 9
Question: How much are the fines?
Answer: First violations are $75.00 and a second or any
subsequent violations are $125.00. Up to a $25.00 processing fee may be added
to each violation. Payments are due by the “Pay By” date listed on the
citation.
The owner of a motor vehicle shall be liable for a civil monetary penalty to
the governing body of the law enforcement agency provided for in paragraph (2)
of this subsection if such vehicle is found, as evidenced by photographically
recorded images, to have been operated in disregard or disobedience of the speed
limit within any school zone and such disregard or disobedience was not
otherwise authorized by law. The amount of such civil monetary penalty shall be
$75.00 for a first violation and $125.00 for a second or any subsequent
violation, in addition to fees associated with the electronic processing of
such civil monetary penalty which shall not exceed $25.00.
H.B. 40-14-18 Section 9
Question: I received a School Zone Speeding Citation. How
do I pay for it?
Answer: The easiest and most convenient payment method is
via the web. The following link may be used.
Online at: https://www.violationpayment.net/pay-view-citation.html
You may also mail a check or money order to the address printed on the
citation and pre-printed return envelope.
Payment by phone: Call 855.252.0086. Please patiently and thoroughly listen
to the prompts. If you wish to speak to a representative, press “9” or “0”.
Representatives can look up your citation by name, notice number, or tag
number.
Question: I received a violation for speeding but wasn’t
driving my vehicle. Do I have to pay for it?
Answer: An automated photo speed violation is considered a
civil violation and the law says the owner of the cited vehicle is responsible.
In Georgia, you may “transfer” the violation to the driver of the vehicle by
the below methods, as taken directly from the Georgia law:
A) Testifies under oath in open court or submits to the court a sworn,
notarized statement that he or she was not the operator of the vehicle at the
time of the alleged violation. B) Presents to the court a certified copy of a
police report showing that the vehicle had been reported to the police as
stolen prior to the time of the alleged violation. H.B. 978 40-14-18 Section 9
It should be noted that if the violation is not paid, the owner remains
responsible for the violation and will not be able to register that vehicle
until the fine is paid.
Question: If I get a ticket will my insurance go up?
Answer: Citations are civil offenses, not criminal. No
points are assessed on your driving record for automated enforcement
violations.
Question: How do the Cameras work? Are they accurate?
Answer: The automated speed enforcement technology is 100
percent accurate in determining exactly which vehicle it’s capturing. The
stationary cameras use a LIDAR laser beam aimed at a single lane. The vehicles
drive through the beam as they travel on the roadway. This guarantees the
vehicle speed recorded is matched to the proper vehicle.
Question: What happens to citation revenue?
Answer: According to state law, paid citation revenue must
be utilized for law enforcement activities, public safety initiatives, such as
police equipment, and new school resource officers that will make our community
safer.
