In Decatur, Georgia, outside Beacon Hill Middle School, drivers are scrutinized by cameras that automatically issue tickets to those speeding through school zones. This setup is one of many across Georgia where such cameras are utilized, sparking a debate between supporters and critics. Proponents argue that these cameras effectively slow down traffic and provide necessary enforcement that police departments, with limited manpower, cannot match. Conversely, some state lawmakers are pushing for a ban on these devices, viewing them as revenue generators for local governments and private companies rather than tools for public safety.
Currently, over 20 states along with the District of Columbia use automated traffic cameras to enforce speed limits, while more than 10 others have banned them. Reversing such a decision would be unprecedented at the state level, though New Jersey did halt a camera-enforced red-light program in 2014. Georgia’s debate on this issue is set to intensify within the state’s General Assembly, as three separate bills have progressed through committees, challenging the state’s decision in 2018 to permit speed cameras in school zones.
Critics assert that the primary motive behind these cameras is financial, not safety-related. More than 100 of the 180 members of Georgia’s House are backing House Bill 225, which aims to abolish the cameras. Dale Washburn, a Macon Republican and sponsor of the bill, presented numerous emails from disgruntled individuals statewide who claimed they were unfairly ticketed or unaware they were in a school zone. Although these citations are civil and not criminal, the Georgia Department of Revenue reported nearly 125,000 unpaid fines in 2024, affecting vehicle registration renewals. Since 2019, this camera enforcement has generated over $112 million across 54 Georgia municipalities, with camera operating companies typically receiving a portion of this revenue.
“The intent of these camera companies is to issue tickets, not enhance school safety,” stated Washburn. Complicating the effort to remove cameras, their associated companies have become influential political contributors, with significant donations to Georgia campaigns in recent years.
While some lawmakers wish to entirely remove these cameras, others propose reforming their use. Legislative leaders seem poised to support bills aimed at better regulating camera operations, mandating clearer signage, and restricting usage hours. Republican Sen. Max Burns, a proponent of Senate Bill 75, suggests the objective should be to warn drivers of school zones so they slow down unless they are clearly in violation during designated times. Another alternate House bill mirrors this idea, suggesting that half of the revenue collected should fund school safety initiatives.
In Decatur, the presence of the cameras coincides with a daily scenario of students exiting Beacon Hill Middle School and traversing College Avenue, a busy state highway. As many Decatur students either walk or bike home, Mayor Patti Garrett highlighted incidents like a student being involved in a hit-and-run and a crossing guard injury, emphasizing the necessity of camera enforcement.
Police Chief Scott Richards reported a 92% reduction in speeding due to the cameras, although they still issued 4,500 citations in January alone. He insists that without these cameras, achieving such reductions wouldn’t be possible. Decatur’s program is upheld as a model, ensuring cameras only function for a short window during school hours and only cite vehicles significantly over the limit.
Yet, the financial aspect of camera enforcement continues to raise concerns. The substantial funds involved lead many, like John Moore from Milledgeville, to argue that profit-motivated law enforcement can’t be trusted. Moore and others hope to sway Georgian lawmakers to permanently remove this system from the state.
