ATL and Riverdale to Refund Drivers Wrongly Ticketed by Speed Cams Following I-Team Investigations
RIVERDALE, Ga.
In a landmark decision, Atlanta and Riverdale are set to automatically refund thousands of drivers who were wrongly ticketed by school zone cameras. This comes following investigations by the FOX 5 I-Team, which revealed certain inconsistencies in camera operations.
The Background Story
The team discovered six auto speed cams positioned near Riverdale High and Riverdale Middle schools inaccurately issued tickets to countless motorists over two academic years. Drivers received penalties for exceeding speed limits near the schools, despite not being within the threshold requiring a ticket under the law. The culprit behind the unwarranted tickets? Cameras that were out of sync with the blinking school zone lights.
City Action
Atlanta and Riverdale, which were heavily impacted by the situation, pledge to refund the affected motorists who had paid their fines. The good news is that drivers need not move a muscle as both cities promise to issue checks and credit card refunds automatically.
Putting Things Right
The City Police Chief, Todd Spivey, confirmed that they are in agreement with the findings of the investigations and have already started issuing refunds. He emphasized, “It’s just the right thing to do.” He also added, “They shouldn’t have to go out of their way to get a refund.”
Financial Impact of the Malfunction
The Chief revealed that the total number of incorrect tickets in Riverdale amounts to $8,766, while those already paid and requiring refunds total $5,258. This means approximately $420,640 will be returned to motorists. These figures certainly reflect the scale of malfunction these cameras have caused over just two school years.
The Human Impact
Among the aggrieved, residents like Candace Thompson, who lives near Riverdale High School, look forward to receiving her share of $650. Over the past two years, she received six citations from the cameras – five of which were mistaken. Such stories highlight the human cost of these incorrect penalties, many of which led to real inconvenience for these drivers.
Much-Needed Corrective Action
Despite the oversight, Police Chief Spivey assured that sponsored credit card refunds and automatic checks will be rolled out over the next four months. He also promised that any holds on vehicle registrations due to the faulty tickets will be revoked, offering much-needed respite to distressed citizens.
The Future
While this saga serves as a wake-up call for the relevant authorities, the necessary action is anticipated in the future. An improved monitoring system ensuring the flashing signs align with the actual schedule, for instance, will address these recurring issues.
