Georgia lawmakers are fighting back against the growing abuse of school zone traffic cameras, which have turned into little more than a cash cow for local governments and private corporations. A large number of Republican lawmakers signaled their support of House Bill 225, a much-needed measure to end the non-stop ticketing nightmare that has plagued Georgia drivers since H.B. 978 passed in 2018.
Supporters for reigning in the school camera overreach say that for years, Georgians have been subjected to unjust fines from these so-called “safety devices,” which are in reality just automated revenue machines.
Originally, these cameras were sold to the public as a way to protect school children during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup. Instead, they’ve become round-the-clock surveillance tools, issuing tickets at all hours, regardless of whether children are even present. Locally, Cobb County State Representative, Ginny Ehrhart showed her support for HB 225.
House Speaker Jon Burns has called out this abuse, stating that the cameras are operating well beyond their intended hours, and their implementation has veered far from what lawmakers originally envisioned. He emphasized the need to correct this misuse and ensure that school zone cameras function only when students are actually traveling to and from school.
But some lawmakers, including Republican State Rep. Dale Washburn of Macon, recognize that half-measures aren’t enough. He’s leading the charge to ban these cameras outright, arguing that local governments and private vendors have turned them into a for-profit scheme that punishes innocent drivers.
Washburn pointed out that in many parts of the state, students don’t even walk to school—yet cameras continue to churn out tickets and rake in millions in fines from hard-working Georgians.
“If you start trying to do any sort of a fix-it … that still allows these camera companies to do things that should not be done to our citizens,” Washburn stated. “The correct thing to do is to ban this.”
While Democrats and local bureaucrats defend the cameras, claiming they promote safety, according to some, these devices have done little to make roads safer. Instead, they have eroded trust in local government, placed an unfair financial burden on drivers, and created a backdoor tax that bypasses voters.
Opponents go on to say, if safety were truly the priority, lawmakers would focus on real solutions—like increased law enforcement presence in our schools and not automated fines from faceless machines.
A recent check shows that after the initial round of support, movement on the Bill has been minimal.
Summary First Reader Summary
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 14 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to speed detection devices, so as to repeal all laws relative to enforcement of speeding violations in school zones through the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices; to provide for conforming changes; to prohibit a local governing body or law enforcement agency from entering into or renewing a contract that provides for enforcement of laws relative to speeding violations in school zones through the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
