CONTACT: schoolzonesafety@columbusga.org

On August 8, 2024, the Columbus Police Department will launch automated speed enforcement cameras in local school zones. The department is teaming up with RedSpeed and the Muscogee County School District to implement a comprehensive School Zone Safety Program, marking a significant step forward in ensuring the safety of students and pedestrians. Our goal is for motorists to comply with the set speed limits to help keep students safe while traveling to and from school. The use of automated speed enforcement cameras is required to be operated within the parameters set forth by Georgia Law 40-14-18. 

The Columbus Police Department utilizes speed enforcement cameras because: 

• Automated speed enforcement cameras are a net zero cost to the county or taxpayers. It is a completely violator-funded program.
• In addition to reducing speeding within school zones, these systems have integrated Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) functions that offer a seamless integration with existing video management technologies (Missing Persons, Amber Alerts, Wanted Persons, Stolen Vehicles, etc.)
• All revenue generated will be used to fund local law enforcement and public safety initiatives.
• Studies have shown that school zones enforced through this method see a significant drop in speeds within the first month and reduce by a percentage each month before leveling off. This results in a dramatic decrease in occurrences of speeding through school zones, thus increasing the safety of the roads during enforcement hours.
• A penalty incurs no points on driving records or impact on insurance premiums; however, there are other consequences for nonpayment or ignoring the citation.

The RedSpeed school zone cameras will only be operational on school days, from one hour before school starts, during school hours, and until one hour after dismissal. The program will target approved school zones where there is a documented need for enhanced safety measures. Emphasizing a focus on significant infractions, violators will only be cited when exceeding the posted speed limit by 11 or more miles per hour (mph).

Based on speed studies conducted by the Columbus Police Department, school zone speed cameras will initially be installed around 20 school zones, with more schools to be added to the program throughout the school year. The Columbus Police Department will continue to update the community on additional schools as their enforcement date approaches.  The Columbus Police Department will handle the enforcement of cameras for public schools within the city.