Local governments can be real money grubbers

[BMWTurboDzl]

I received a photo enforcement speeding ticket in a school zone. It was on a Friday at 1157hrs. I remembered the sign regarding the photo enforcement but I also remembering not a big deal because it's noon. I don't remember if the school zone sign was blinking. I don't think it was and apparently it's not uncommon. Turns out the school zone hours for that school is 0700-1600 hrs M-F. That's an absurd amount of hours. The road is a 4 lane state highway in rural N Ga.

Apparently the cameras have become a big issue and of course the supplier for the cameras donates a lot of money to state politicians.


https://www.wrdw.com/2025/03/08/i-team-update-bills-limit-school-zone-speed-cameras-move-forward/

https://apnews.com/article/georgia-...cket-cameras-07775172cc4b30c429a12ca66beff555

 

[wings&wheels]

After a career in private industry that included lots of interface with regulators and politicians, having been appointed by the then Governor to a Commonwealth committee and after 14 years volunteering on our Town Finance Committee, I have nothing to add that wouldn't aggravate folks beyond belief and get this thread locked..... The answer is Yes.

 

[Brian123]

In Maryland, the School Zone Cameras are on 24/7
Back in the mid 1990's I would drive down a road when I got off my part time job around Midnite. I would put the Tailgate down on the truck and go a lot faster than the 35-mph speed limit and when I went by the Speed Camera it Flashed off. LOL

 

[Vercingetorix]

How fast? School zones are what 55 in some places in Texas?

 

[oldhp]

Here in Illinois the signs say the hours BUT "When children are present". So if no kids outside the regular speed limit applies. Where I live NO cameras.

 

[eljefino]

Here in Illinois the signs say the hours BUT "When children are present". So if no kids outside the regular speed limit applies. Where I live NO cameras.

That's often how it is in Maine, too. Makes the drivers look for kids. Which is the whole point.

 

[PandaBear]

About the hours: not all schools have fixed starting and ending hours, some have 11:30 early dismissal SOME DAYS but not others. I think that probably was the intention.

You may want to convince the judge otherwise but likely won't work.

 

[bbhero]

Not shocked at all…


Petersburg Va has lovely cameras at stoplights and it became once that the yellow light was cut shorter to get more revenue.. When people started being “ safe”…
That contract with the camera company was rather expensive and needed to be paid… By the city. .

What was thought to be a city revenue service became a losing proposition…

Morons that were money grubbing … Caused that.


$1,000,000 dollars in one year in speeding tickets en out on a very, very small section of interstate 295 that goes through Hopewell Virginia…

And yeah I saw them sitting right next to the left lane on 295 northbound at night…

Thinking to myself that’s a great way to die or become permanently disabled by getting hit from be by a drunk person driving 65 plus mph…


Is a ticket worth that ?

Shouldn’t Be.

 

[D60]

I received a photo enforcement speeding ticket in a school zone. It was on a Friday at 1157hrs. I remembered the sign regarding the photo enforcement but I also remembering not a big deal because it's noon. I don't remember if the school zone sign was blinking. I don't think it was and apparently it's not uncommon. Turns out the school zone hours for that school is 0700-1600 hrs M-F. That's an absurd amount of hours. The road is a 4 lane state highway in rural N Ga.

Apparently the cameras have become a big issue and of course the supplier for the cameras donates a lot of money to state politicians.


https://www.wrdw.com/2025/03/08/i-team-update-bills-limit-school-zone-speed-cameras-move-forward/

https://apnews.com/article/georgia-...cket-cameras-07775172cc4b30c429a12ca66beff555

View attachment 266965

I see the map but don't know if it's showing all surface streets. If there's another way, consider that.

I face a similar situation and drive through residential instead. I hope the residents notice and complain. If enough people do it, maybe they will.

Don't give the speed trap a chance if you can avoid it. That said, I realize this may simply be impractical.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

How fast? School zones are what 55 in some places in Texas?

I was doing 62 in 45. It's normally 55.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I see the map but don't know if it's showing all surface streets. If there's another way, consider that.

I face a similar situation and drive through residential instead. I hope the residents notice and complain. If enough people do it, maybe they will.

Don't give the speed trap a chance if you can avoid it. That said, I realize this may simply be impractical.

It is. It's a rural highway.

 

[dogememe]

They're doing red light cameras here in Napa again. Apparently there used to be some but it was discontinued a few years ago. Now they're back. Whether or not it's positive or negative is a complex discussion with many perspectives. All I know, the companies that are installing and managing these systems are the ones benefiting the most.

 

[FowVay]

Tallulah Falls is the money grab capital of the state. I learned a long time ago to just putt going through that place regardless of day or time.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Tallulah Falls is the money grab capital of the state. I learned a long time ago to just putt going through that place regardless of day or time.

Indeed. They drop to 35 at the bridge and normally have LEO sitting in the median.

 

[MNgopher]

I was doing 62 in 45. It's normally 55.

So you were speeding regardless.

Don't want a ticket, follow the speed limit. Simple stuff.

Otherwise don't complain when you get caught or the method that caught you...

And before anyone says it, yes, I do drive over the speed limit in some circumstances, but if i was caught I wouldn't complain about it. Known consequences for my actions and all...

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

So you were speeding regardless.

Don't want a ticket, follow the speed limit. Simple stuff.

Otherwise don't complain when you get caught or the method that caught you...

And before anyone says it, yes, I do drive over the speed limit in some circumstances, but if i was caught I wouldn't complain about it. Known consequences for my actions and all...

Irrelevant. If I had known the speed limit was 45 I would've reduced my speed.

 

[MNgopher]

I was doing 62 in 45. It's normally 55.

Last I checked, 62 is still more than 55...

Good luck with your rationalizations.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Last I checked, 62 is still more than 55...

Good luck with your rationalizations.

Well if it were 55 I wouldn't have received a ticket. GA doesn't ticket for less than 10 mph over. Especially on highway. So as I said irrelevant.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Used to be red light camera's in Charlotte NC. Someone kept appealing them all the way up to the NC supreme court, who threw them out. The city of Charlotte had to buy out the camera contractor - because they had signed a contract guaranteeing a certain amount of revenue. Talk about a conflict of interest.

In SC camera's are not acceptable. You need to be able to face your accuser in court. Ridgeland County set up a camera on interstate I-95. They parked a van with a LEO in it - who issued the speeding tickets - figuring that got them around the law. State AG sent them cease and desist. They started only ticketing out of state tags - figured no one would challenge it. Someone did and they got slapped also.

I am fine with whatever speed they want to put around a school zone. But having it all day on a rural road is nonsense. There should be a flashing light - whatever speed when children present. Give the school the ability to over-ride the light and turn it on whenever they want - all it takes is a timer and a button. The fact they don't have this just proves its nothing but a revenue generation plan.

BTW - you can always tell when the economy is going South, because the small towns start running out of money so they send out their LEO to make revenue. Call it an on the ground economic indicator.

 

[JohnnyG]

Thanks for the heads up!