Latest news with #DaleWashburn
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Speed cameras have generated more than $14 million in Albany; now they're up for debate in the Georgia legislature
ALBANY – Albany school zone speed cameras continue to watch out for speeding drivers as the Georgia legislature debates whether to better regulate or outright ban them. Camera critics say the cameras are a money grab and signal an overdependence on fines and fees to fund city projects. Supporters say the speed cameras have led to better driving habits and safer school zones for pedestrians. State Rep. Dale Washburn, R-Macon, is sponsoring House Bill 225, which aims to reverse 2018 legislation allowing cameras to be placed in school zones. Rep, Alan Powell, R-Hartwell, introduced House Bill 651, which proposes limiting the hours the cameras can be used and mandating that half of the fines collected go toward school safety improvements. Both bills made it through the Georgia House and await decisions in the Senate. Albany first installed RedSpeed cameras in August 2021. In nine enforced school zones, drivers receive a citation for going 11 mph over the school zone speed limit. The first citation costs $80. Subsequent citations are $135. The citations are considered a civil infraction with no points added to drivers licenses and no insurance increases. Since 2021, the cameras have led to more than $14.5 million in fines, according to a report from RedSpeed Georgia. The Albany Herald is awaiting information from an Open Records request that details how much of that money was received by the city and how much went to RedSpeed. Albany Police Chief Michael Persley said some of this money has been used to fund public safety initiatives such as improving safety within school zones, upgrading school zone signage, police training in conjunction with the Albany Fire Department, and youth programs with the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office and the city's Recreation and Parks Department. It also funded new equipment, like cars for community safety officers. Persley said he's not in agreement with banning the cameras outright. 'I think that's taking a step a little too far,' he said. 'We need to look at the whole situation. What are you trying to ban?' A 2024 report showed that there's been a 95% reduction in speed violators since 2021. Traffic studies, before installing the cameras, found hundreds of drivers each day exceeding the posted speed limit in school zones by more than 10 mph. Reducing a motorist's speed by only 5 mph doubles a child's chance of survival if struck by a vehicle, safety officials say. The report also said the cameras led to overall improved driver behavior – with 88% of offenders receiving less than two citations in 2024. 'The whole purpose of the program was to curb driving behavior, which it did,' Persley said. On the flip side, if cameras were banned, Persley said the department would have to put officers in school zones, but getting pulled over for speeding in a school zone means a criminal offense rather than a civil one. The police chief said losing the revenue from the speed cameras also would slow down some program implementation. He said without that revenue, the police department's gunshot detection program and license plate readers wouldn't have been rolled out as quickly. This equipment has resulted in the police department more effectively responding to gun violence situations and finding stolen cars. Staff from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI), a nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to expand economic opportunity for Georgians, criticized the speed cameras and said they want lawmakers to look into more ways to increase safety in school zones beyond addressing the cameras Ray Khalfani, a GBPI senior analyst, spoke at a community town hall in Albany on March 4 about multiple pieces of legislation that could 'remove some of the practices in our state that create excessive fines and fees' that create an excessive reliance on these things for cities to fund themselves. Khalfani said practices like citations from school zone cameras hurt residents. 'It doesn't help the economic vitality in their city because … that makes it difficult for people to keep jobs, get jobs, pay their bills and take care of their families,' he said. However, Khalfani said HB225 and HB651 are not the answer. 'You got all these bills to talk about addressing this school zone speeding issue, but who's going to talk about fixing road design … and fixing the child safety and pedestrian safety issue in school zones without robbing communities?' he said. Complaints in Albany have risen about improper signage or lighting to indicate school zones or citations occurring after hours. 'I'm still waiting for someone to bring in a school zone violation that they got on the weekends, that they got at night time,' Persley said. 'There are too many checks and balances in the systems for that to happen.' He said the one school zone location that doesn't have flashing lights is on North Slappey Boulevard. He said the city finally got approval from GDOT to put lights up, and the city is waiting for them to come in. 'I'm not in favor of the ban, but whatever the legislature passes, we will enforce,' Persley said. 'Just slow down. Be mindful of where you're at … of your driving habits.'
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ban on school traffic cameras passes Georgia House, heads to Senate for approval
An effort in the Georgia House of Representatives to repeal state law allowing school zone traffic cameras to catch speeders passed and is headed to the state senate for approval or rejection. House Bill 225, sponsored by Rep. Dale Washburn, would completely ban speed cameras from school zones. The bill passed its House floor vote 129 for, 37 against. Speaking with Channel 2′s Richard Elliot while the bill was still working its way through the various House committees, Washburn said the cameras were being used to generate revenue from speeding tickets, rather than helping improve safety. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Lawmaker who introduced bill to ban school zone cameras says they do nothing but rake in revenue Should they stay or should they go? Hearings start over competing bills over school cameras Georgia Rep. proposes new bill to ban traffic cameras in school zones However, in areas like Decatur, city officials said the cameras have helped keep students safe. Now, the bill will make its way to state senators for review, and possible passage. Should it gain full approval and become law, every government or law enforcement office using a radar device, including on school campuses, would have to test their radar devices for accuracy and keep records of those test results at the beginning and end of each duty tour. Additionally, radars that do not meet minimum accuracy requirements must be removed from service they've been recertified as accurate by a qualified technician. Anyone who gets a speeding ticket based on speeds reported by a radar used by governments or law officers, they would also have the right to request the device is tested for accuracy and a citation or ticket issued against them must have time to request this test before it can be issued. If the test proves the device inaccurate, the bill would prevent tickets or citations from being issued against the driver in question. If senators do not make changes to the bill as it is currently written, and it passes with a majority in the Senate, it would head to Gov. Brian Kemp to approve or veto. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Arab Times
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Arab Times
Georgia lawmakers push to ban automated speed cameras near schools
DECATUR, Ga, March 5, (AP): Outside Beacon Hill Middle School in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, like along hundreds of roadsides across Georgia, the unblinking eye of a camera tickets drivers who speed through a school zone. Supporters say cameras slow down drivers and provide constant enforcement that understaffed police departments can't equal. But some state lawmakers want to ban them, saying the cameras are more about generating money for local governments and camera companies, and that some use them deceptively. More than 20 states and the District of Columbia allow automated traffic cameras to issue speeding tickets, but more than 10 other states have outlawed them. However, it would be unusual for a state to reverse its position. New Jersey had a pilot program testing cameras to enforce red lights, but pulled the plug in 2014. Georgia's fight will come to a head soon in its General Assembly, with three separate bills advancing out of committees. The state first authorized speed cameras, but only in school zones, in 2018. More than 100 representatives in Georgia's 180-member House signed on to House Bill 225, which would ban the cameras. Dale Washburn, the Macon Republican sponsoring that measure, provided a stack of emails from outraged people ticketed statewide who said lights weren't flashing, they didn't even know they were in a school zone, or the cameras were otherwise unfair. While the tickets in Georgia are civil citations and don't go on a driver's criminal record, the state does block people who don't pay from renewing their vehicle registration. Almost 125,000 unpaid violations were reported in 2024, the Georgia Department of Revenue said. The cameras generated more than $112 million in revenue in 54 Georgia cities and counties since 2019, WANF-TV found last year. Camera companies typically take a share of the revenue. "These camera companies are engaged in deceit and trickery,' Washburn said. "Their goal is to write tickets, not to enhance children's safety." One issue with abolishing cameras is that companies have become big political donors. Two big vendors, United Kingdom-based RedSpeed and Tennessee-based Blue Line Solutions, contributed around $500,000 to Georgia campaigns in recent years, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks money in politics.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia lawmakers push to ban automated speed cameras near schools
DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — Outside Beacon Hill Middle School in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, like along hundreds of roadsides across Georgia, the unblinking eye of a camera tickets drivers who speed through a school zone. Supporters say cameras slow down drivers and provide constant enforcement that understaffed police departments can't equal. But some state lawmakers want to ban them, saying the cameras are more about generating money for local governments and camera companies, and that some use them deceptively. More than 20 states and the District of Columbia allow automated traffic cameras to issue speeding tickets, but more than 10 other states have outlawed them. However, it would be unusual for a state to reverse its position. New Jersey had a pilot program testing cameras to enforce red lights, but pulled the plug in 2014. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Georgia's fight will come to a head soon in its General Assembly, with three separate bills advancing out of committees. The state first authorized speed cameras, but only in school zones, in 2018. Opponents say cameras are about money not safety More than 100 representatives in Georgia's 180-member House signed on to House Bill 225, which would ban the cameras. Dale Washburn, the Macon Republican sponsoring that measure, provided a stack of emails from outraged people ticketed statewide who said lights weren't flashing, they didn't even know they were in a school zone, or the cameras were otherwise unfair. While the tickets in Georgia are civil citations and don't go on a driver's criminal record, the state does block people who don't pay from renewing their vehicle registration. Almost 125,000 unpaid violations were reported in 2024, the Georgia Department of Revenue said. The cameras generated more than $112 million in revenue in 54 Georgia cities and counties since 2019, WANF-TV found last year. Camera companies typically take a share of the revenue. 'These camera companies are engaged in deceit and trickery,' Washburn said. 'Their goal is to write tickets, not to enhance children's safety." One issue with abolishing cameras is that companies have become big political donors. Two big vendors, United Kingdom-based RedSpeed and Tennessee-based Blue Line Solutions, contributed around $500,000 to Georgia campaigns in recent years, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks money in politics. Others want to reform camera use, not end it Legislative leaders seem more likely to support two other bills that would keep cameras, but more closely regulate them by providing better warning signs and limiting the hours of usage. 'So the objective is to alert drivers that they're entering a school zone and get them to slow down and then for them not to be cited unless they are speeding in a school zone during designated hours,' said Republican Sen. Max Burns of Sylvania, who is sponsoring Senate Bill 75. An alternate House bill that is similar to Burns' would require half the money raised go to school safety. In Decatur, students surge out of Beacon Hill Middle at dismissal and walk along College Avenue, a two-lane street that's also a state highway. Unlike most places in Georgia, where most students travel home in buses or their parents' cars, a majority of Decatur's 5,300 students either walk or ride bikes home. Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett said a student at Beacon Hill was struck in a hit-and-run accident and a crossing guard elsewhere was also hit before Decatur activated its cameras last fall. 'We really want to protect our most vulnerable residents, our students, and particularly when they are on foot or on a bicycle," Garrett said. Violations drop but many drivers still speed Police Chief Scott Richards said according to a speed study conducted by the company, speeding has fallen 92%. But there are still plenty of drivers flying through the five zones where Decatur is using cameras. They issued 4,500 valid citations in January alone, he said. 'We would not be able to get those reductions if it were not for the photo enforcement in school zones,' Richards said. Decatur officials tout their efforts as a model, saying the city has abundant signage and only operates the cameras for a 30 minutes before and after schools begin in the morning and dismiss in the afternoon. A vehicle must be traveling 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) per hour over the speed limit to be cited. Still, Washburn and others say the amount of money involved encourages overuse and bad behavior. 'Profit-based law enforcement cannot be trusted,' John Moore of Milledgeville wrote to Washburn in February. 'I hope you can convince your colleagues to vote this menace out of our state for good."
The Independent
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Georgia lawmakers push to ban automated speed cameras near schools
Outside Beacon Hill Middle School in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, like along hundreds of roadsides across Georgia, the unblinking eye of a camera tickets drivers who speed through a school zone. Supporters say cameras slow down drivers and provide constant enforcement that understaffed police departments can't equal. But some state lawmakers want to ban them, saying the cameras are more about generating money for local governments and camera companies, and that some use them deceptively. More than 20 states and the District of Columbia allow automated traffic cameras to issue speeding tickets, but more than 10 other states have outlawed them. However, it would be unusual for a state to reverse its position. New Jersey had a pilot program testing cameras to enforce red lights, but pulled the plug in 2014. Georgia's fight will come to a head soon in its General Assembly, with three separate bills advancing out of committees. The state first authorized speed cameras, but only in school zones, in 2018. Opponents say cameras are about money not safety More than 100 representatives in Georgia's 180-member House signed on to House Bill 225, which would ban the cameras. Dale Washburn, the Macon Republican sponsoring that measure, provided a stack of emails from outraged people ticketed statewide who said lights weren't flashing, they didn't even know they were in a school zone, or the cameras were otherwise unfair. While the tickets in Georgia are civil citations and don't go on a driver's criminal record, the state does block people who don't pay from renewing their vehicle registration. Almost 125,000 unpaid violations were reported in 2024, the Georgia Department of Revenue said. The cameras generated more than $112 million in revenue in 54 Georgia cities and counties since 2019, WANF-TV found last year. Camera companies typically take a share of the revenue. 'These camera companies are engaged in deceit and trickery,' Washburn said. 'Their goal is to write tickets, not to enhance children's safety." One issue with abolishing cameras is that companies have become big political donors. Two big vendors, United Kingdom-based RedSpeed and Tennessee-based Blue Line Solutions, contributed around $500,000 to Georgia campaigns in recent years, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks money in politics. Others want to reform camera use, not end it Legislative leaders seem more likely to support two other bills that would keep cameras, but more closely regulate them by providing better warning signs and limiting the hours of usage. 'So the objective is to alert drivers that they're entering a school zone and get them to slow down and then for them not to be cited unless they are speeding in a school zone during designated hours,' said Republican Sen. Max Burns of Sylvania, who is sponsoring Senate Bill 75. An alternate House bill that is similar to Burns' would require half the money raised go to school safety. In Decatur, students surge out of Beacon Hill Middle at dismissal and walk along College Avenue, a two-lane street that's also a state highway. Unlike most places in Georgia, where most students travel home in buses or their parents' cars, a majority of Decatur's 5,300 students either walk or ride bikes home. Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett said a student at Beacon Hill was struck in a hit-and-run accident and a crossing guard elsewhere was also hit before Decatur activated its cameras last fall. 'We really want to protect our most vulnerable residents, our students, and particularly when they are on foot or on a bicycle," Garrett said. Violations drop but many drivers still speed Police Chief Scott Richards said according to a speed study conducted by the company, speeding has fallen 92%. But there are still plenty of drivers flying through the five zones where Decatur is using cameras. They issued 4,500 valid citations in January alone, he said. 'We would not be able to get those reductions if it were not for the photo enforcement in school zones,' Richards said. Decatur officials tout their efforts as a model, saying the city has abundant signage and only operates the cameras for a 30 minutes before and after schools begin in the morning and dismiss in the afternoon. A vehicle must be traveling 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) per hour over the speed limit to be cited. Still, Washburn and others say the amount of money involved encourages overuse and bad behavior. 'Profit-based law enforcement cannot be trusted,' John Moore of Milledgeville wrote to Washburn in February. 'I hope you can convince your colleagues to vote this menace out of our state for good."
