State Rep. Dale Washburn vows to continue fight against school zone speed cameras

House Bill 225, which was crafted by Washburn and proposed a statewide ban on the cameras, died after state legislatures failed to adopt it before last Friday’s deadline. Now, Bibb County Sheriff David Davis will decide if the county will collect fines from the cameras.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – State Rep. Dale Washburn (R-Macon) says he will continue efforts to ban school zone speeding cameras in Macon and across the state.

House Bill 225, which was crafted by Washburn and proposed a statewide ban on the cameras, died after state legislatures failed to adopt it before last Friday’s deadline.

According to Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller, the county collected $8.9 million in revenue from the cameras over the past three years alone. Washburn says this figure is jarring as citations result in a fine of $100 on average.

“Who would believe that there are 89,000 drivers in Bibb County that are speeding through school zones?” Washburn said. 

While Washburn was seeking a ban on the cameras, a separate bill, H.B. 651, aimed to rein them in with limited hours and increased visibility, among other measures. It also failed to pass.

Last week, Miller spoke in favor the cameras, saying there’s evidence to support their enhancement of public safety.

“We have already seen the number of citations per camera decrease which means people got a ticket or got a warning and they decreased the amount of speed,” Miller said. “So, I think anytime you can show that speeds are decreasing in these areas it’s a good thing for school safety.” 

But Washburn disagrees, calling that argument a misdirection.

“There was no problem to begin with,” Washburn said. “You’re issuing tickets when there are no kids walking anywhere. Many of these schools are way off the road where there’s no opportunity for kids to be walking.”

At last week’s pre-commission meeting, Miller announced a host of projects and pay increases for some county employees using revenue from the cameras. But Washburn argues they are doing far more harm than good for residents.

“Many, many times, the poor people who don’t have $100 to pay are being given these tickets when they’re not really doing anything that’s endangering people to start with,” Washburn said.

On Monday, Miller said he would donate $1,000 he received as a campaign contribution to a local charity after offering a challenge on Facebook to pay $100 for each ticket issued outside permitted hours. He said none were presented.

Bibb County Sheriff David Davis suspended ticket citations from the cameras last month while awaiting a decision from state legislators. While his bill did not become state law, Washburn says he spoke with Davis Tuesday to ask that the cameras not be turned back on. He says his work will continue at the state level once the general assembly reconvenes.

“This system is abusive, it’s wrong, and it needs to be banished from Georgia,” Washburn said.