Q: I have three questions regarding the use of speed detection devices in Gwinnett County. Has Gwinnett County and its cities regained the use of speed detection devices such as radar? During the period when the county and its cities lost the use of speed detection devices, was there a noticeable change in the number of accidents and fatalities? Was there a noticeable drop in revenue from traffic enforcement?
—James Hudson, Lilburn
A:The lawsuit has not been resolved, and the county is still without speed detection devices, Cpl. Jake Smith, spokesman for the Gwinnett County Police Department, told Q&A on the News in an e-mail. Gwinnett Police has not seen a significant increase in the number of accidents or fatalities, he wrote, adding that he cannot speak for city agencies. "This is probably due to the fact that there are no fewer patrol cars on the road than there were before," he wrote. Smith added that the sheriff's department and Georgia State Patrol still run speed detection in the county. Fines cannot be separated by those from radar-detected speeders, because of the way the county tracks its tickets, Gwinnett County spokesman Joe Sorenson wrote in an e-mail. But he said revenue projections from fines associated with Recorders Court were adjusted, with a $1.3 million decrease, at the mid-year budget reconciliation.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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