Georgia House Passes Two Bills to Curb School Zone Speed Cameras – Finally, A Win for Drivers!
Finally, some sanity is being restored in Georgia! The Georgia House of Representatives has just passed two bills aimed at reining in those pesky, money-grabbing school zone speed cameras.
Finally, some sanity is being restored in Georgia! The Georgia House of Representatives has just passed two bills aimed at reining in those pesky, money-grabbing school zone speed cameras. The cameras that were supposed to be about safety, but let’s be real, we all know they’re mostly about lining pockets.
House Bill 225 completely bans these automated ticketing systems, overturning that disastrous 2018 law that allowed them to exist in the first place. House Bill 651 is the compromise—keeping the cameras, but adding strict guidelines on when and how they can operate. Yeah, we’ll let the cameras stay, but they won’t be free to abuse drivers anymore.
Here’s the deal: It’s way overdue, and the state Senate better not mess this up.
What’s the Problem with These Cameras?
The system was set up with the claim that it would protect students. But if you’ve been anywhere near Memorial Drive or Riverdale High School, you’ve probably seen the issue. Drivers getting ticketed at all hours of the day, outside of school hours, or even on weekends. Not to mention the cameras that are wrongly set up in areas where children don’t even walk. And the worst part? The fines aren’t even criminal—they’re civil citations. So, guess what? No consequences if you just toss the ticket in the trash, and no one is going to stop you.
The cameras aren’t about protecting students—they’re about easy revenue for local governments and out-of-state camera companies. Rep. Dale Washburn hit the nail on the head: “We’ve probably taken $50 million out of Georgia” through these fines.
House Bill 651: The “Compromise” Bill
If you can’t completely kill the cameras, let’s at least make them less of a cash grab. That’s exactly what House Bill 651 aims to do. It limits ticketing to two-hour windows during school arrival and dismissal times. And hey, guess what? Now there will be warning signs to let drivers know their speed before they get hit with a fine. Sounds fair, right? Plus, it puts the brakes on cities and counties collecting too much revenue, capping it at 35% of their police budget.
But don’t get too excited yet—this bill still has some serious flaws. While it might rein in the abuse, we’re still letting these cameras operate at all. And that’s a problem.
What’s at Stake?
The political donations behind this entire camera racket are a huge part of the issue. Over the past four years, camera companies have funneled $700,000 in donations to Georgia’s politicians. $400,000 of that came just this year. How much influence do you think that’s bought? Too much. These donations are coming from companies that make their money by trapping innocent drivers.
If these bills pass in the Senate, we can finally put an end to the scam and keep our roads safer without the trickery. Rep. Alan Powell might have a point when he said that House Bill 651 is “a second choice,” but we need to start somewhere.
The Senate: Don’t Screw This Up
The House has done its job—now it’s time for the Senate to step up. They’ve got two options to choose from, but the real solution is simple: ban the cameras completely. No more entrapment. No more abuse. This isn’t about fighting for safety, it’s about protecting drivers from predatory practices.
Let’s see if the Senate can stand up to the camera companies’ influence and pass something that actually makes sense. This isn’t just about political games—it’s about standing up for everyday Georgians who are tired of being taken advantage of.
For more updates on Georgia politics and the fight to stop the speed trap madness, stay tuned to Georgia First News. We’re not done yet!