School speed camera questions answered

When are citations issued?

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Speed traps.  That’s how a lot of people are referring to the photo-enforced school zone cameras now in use in Macon-Bibb County.

There’s a lot of misinformation about these cameras including when the cameras are issuing tickets, at what speed and at what time of day.

To clear some of that up, 41NBC’s Chace Ambrose spoke with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

Maj. Brad Wolfe says there are currently six school zones with active cameras and that all school zones will eventually have them. Each school zone that comes on line has a 30-day grace period when the cameras go live.

As far as your speed, the cameras issue tickets at 10 miles per hour over the limit regardless of if the lights are flashing, but they are only supposed to issue the citations during school zone hours.

“Non-school days, they shouldn’t be ticketing at all,” Maj. Wolfe said. “From an hour before the first bell to an hour after the last bell is the only time they should be ticketing. They’re always recording, but they shouldn’t be ticketing outside of those timeframes or days of the week.”

One of the most common complaints so far is the amount of time it takes between the time of the violation and the time of receiving the ticket.

In one case, it took more than 30 days.

“Well if there had been an actual officer there, I’d have gotten a ticket that day, and with cameras, I understand that’s not possible,” Michael Stewart said. “But within a week or two I would think would be a little more reasonable, because I can’t remember a month ago where I was. I mean, it took me time to think where was I, when was this, what was going on?”

“There’s several factors involved there, but the company was aware of that problem and they’ve done some changes to try to speed it up,” Wolfe said. “(They’re) getting them to us and getting them back out once they get them back.”

If you feel you’ve gotten a ticket on a non-school day or one for less than 10 miles an hour over the limit, you should contact the sheriff’s office.

If you want to fight the ticket in court, for example, because you weren’t the person driving, there are instructions on the back of the ticket.