Decatur to Launch Speed Camera Initiative in School Zones Starting October

Decatur to Activate Speed Cameras in School Zones this October

Hey, Decatur neighbors! Big news on the horizon if you drive through our city’s school zones. Come October, some new speed cameras are going live in Decatur, GA.

The journey starts with warning citations for speeding beginning on October 14. The pace picks up a notch when actual citations start rolling out from November 13. These cameras are stationed near some of our local schools: Beacon Hill Middle School, Clairemont Elementary School, Westchester Elementary School, and Winnona Park Elementary School. According to a recent press release, these machines are here to ward off speeding motorists.

The Decatur Police Department decided to take this step after a study flagged speeding as a big problem in our school zones. Imagine this: out of about 167,941 drivers cruising through the zones each week, about 20,711 are speeding! To break it down further, 6,682 drivers zoomed through the school zones at 15-20 miles per hour over the limit and a whopping 2,204 drivers were caught going 21 miles per hour or faster than they should.

This new step is to make school zones safer for students, parents, teachers, and even fellow motorists. What’s the game plan? It’s a three-step program: inform and educate the public, issue warnings for 30 days, and then start real citations.

Where Will These Speed Cameras Be?

Here are the school zones that will get these speed monitors:

• Scott Boulevard: Roughly between Garden Lane and Westchester Drive, near Westchester Elementary School
• West College Avenue: From Mead Road to South McDonough Street, near Beacon Hill Middle and Oakhurst Elementary schools
• Clairemont Avenue: Roughly between Erie Avenue and Wilton Drive, near Clairemont Elementary School
• Church Street: From Geneva Street to Willow Lane, also for Clairemont Elementary
• South Candler Street: From Green Street to East Dougherty Street, near Winnona Park Elementary School

How Does It Work?

Cameras will snap drivers going 10 miles per hour or more over the speed limit. The 30-day warning period is from October 14 to November 12. Only warnings will be issued during this time. When we hit November 13, it’s fine time. The fine will be $100 for the first violation and $150 for any following ones.

If a potential violation is caught on camera, staff from Blueline Solutions will first verify the vehicle and license plate number. If there was indeed a violation, the information is then shot over to the Decatur Police Department for a final check by an officer. Once approved, Blueline Solutions will issue and mail the citation.

School Zone Hours: These cameras will be watching an hour before school starts and an hour after school dismisses, making sure everyone adheres to the speed limits during these crucial times.

There’s a significant fact to drive the point home —“Statistics show that a child hit by a car traveling at 40 MPH has a 1 in 10 chance of survival,” noted the press release. “If the speed is reduced to 20 MPH, the child’s survival rate improves to 9 in 10. Speeding plays a big role in accidents causing injuries and deaths.”

The City of Decatur gave the nod to a contract with Blueline Solutions in 2023 to kickstart this school zone speed enforcement program. Police Chief Scott Richards previously stated, “The goal of the program is to increase roadway safety in five school zones within the city of Decatur by reducing the number of speeding vehicles. A reduction in speeding vehicles reduces the likelihood of serious crashes and injuries, especially for children who are walking, biking and riding to and from school each day.”

So, remember, as these cameras get set to roll, it’s all about keeping our streets—especially those around schools—safe for everyone. Drive safe, Decatur!