Isle of Hope K-8 school area activates speed cameras with 30-day citation grace period

Prior to the installation at Isle of Hope, speed cameras were already located at Georgetown K-8, May Howard Elementary and Marshpoint Elementary schools, Coastal Middle School and St. Andrews School.

Those cameras were activated on August 15, 2021 and were installed after the department conducted a 2019 speed study throughout unincorporated parts of the county. The department found that nearly 93,000 vehicles traveled through the school zones during school hours over a five-day period. During that same time, more than 10,700 speeding violations occurred.

Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Since August 2021, speeding citations have been reduced to to 72%, Nolen said. According to the latest monthly report released on Feb. 15, 2,363 total citations were issued for January. The speed report for Feb. 2022 will be released on March 15.

Ticket time

Georgia law allows speed cameras to be installed in school zones. The law states that cameras can be turned on one hour before the school day, then remain on during school hours and one hour after school ends.

Nolen said drivers will not receive a citation until after they have gone 10 mph over the posted speed limit.

An officer with the department will review each violation before a citation is mailed to the driver. Once received in the mail, the citation will include a picture of the vehicle, tag, and the speed the vehicle was traveling.

Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Since the ticket is a civil offense, points will not be deducted from a driver’s license. A first-time offense carries a $75 fine plus a $25 processing fee. Additional violations will have a $125 penalty plus a $25 processing fee.

Fines can be paid online and motorists can appeal the citation to a judge, but a failure to pay the fine will result in the vehicle owner not being able to renew the vehicle tag or transfer the vehicle title.

Speeders beware

Nolen said the department only issues a few citations in Georgetown K-8, May Howard, St. Andrews school zones, but still has a problem with motorists speeding on Highway 80 in the Coastal Middle and Marshpoint Elementary schools area. She said even with flashing lights, cameras and signs that indicate to drivers that they're in a school zone, drivers are going too fast and ignoring the signs.

“We’re issuing well over 1,000 speeding citations a month in that one school zone," she said.

Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Nolen said the department has partnered with Waze, a traffic navigation app to have speed zone camera alerts on motorists phones. The alerts are expected to be live on Feb. 28.

“We know a lot of people use Waze to get notifications about traffic delays, construction, and accidents, so we’re hopeful that this will be another useful tool in getting people to slow down and be mindful of the fact that they’re in a school zone," she said.

Nolen said more speed cameras have been approved for Southwest Middle, St. James Catholic, and Hesse Elementary schools, but will have to go through a lengthy process before they are installed.

Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

She said permits have to be obtained, the cameras have to be in the department’s jurisdiction of unincorporated Chatham County and are added based on a decision from individual governments and police departments.

She said there is no timeframe for when the cameras at those schools will be installed.

Bianca Moorman is the education reporter. Reach her at BMoorman@gannett.com or 912-239-7706. Find her on Twitter @biancarmoorman. 

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Isle of Hope K-8 school area activates speed cameras with 30-day citation grace period