Speed Cameras Spark Debate in Savannah as New Year Begins

The Start of a New School Year and the Debate Over Speed Cameras

As another school year begins, students are filled with excitement about returning to class and reconnecting with friends. For many, this is a time of anticipation and hope for a fresh start. Eliana Clarke, a student in the area, shared her feelings about reuniting with classmates: “I have not seen them in a long time and love them very much.”

With the new school year comes increased awareness of safety around schools. Drivers are being reminded to slow down as the academic year kicks off on August 4, 2025. Speeding in school zones during school hours can result in a $125 citation. In Chatham County, there are more than 25 speed enforcement cameras deployed in school zones, designed to monitor and enforce safe driving practices.

The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System believes these cameras play a critical role in protecting the more than 3,000 students who walk to school daily. Dr. Denise Watts, the superintendent of the school system, highlighted the importance of these measures after a serious incident last year. “We had a student hit by a car at the end of the school year. It was a very serious scenario. That student spent many weeks in the hospital,” she said.

Despite the efforts to improve safety, speeding near schools remains a persistent issue. Chatham County Police reported that in unincorporated areas of the county, speed cameras captured an average of over 2,700 drivers each month during the previous school year. Deputy Chief Robert Rodríguez of Savannah-Chatham County School Campus Police emphasized the need for continued enforcement. “It just illustrates the need for the cameras, because we need that number to be zero. It’s a community thing, not necessarily a school thing.”

However, not everyone supports the use of speed cameras and the associated fines. Some Georgia state legislators argue that the system is neither effective nor equitable. During the last legislative session, several bills were introduced to reform or remove the cameras, but they did not pass. Lawmakers have pledged to revisit the issue in the next session.

Derek Mallow, a Democratic state senator from Savannah, criticized the way the citations are managed. “The fines associated with the operation of the school zone cameras, the time they’re operating, I found them to be very predatory and how they’re being managed,” he said. Critics also point out how the revenue from citations is distributed among different entities. In Chatham County, police departments receive 62.5% of the fines, the school district gets 5%, and Blue Line Solutions, the company that operates the cameras, receives 32.5%.

This distribution has raised concerns about potential misuse of funds. Police departments and school campus police have benefited significantly from the citations, using the money to support their budgets, purchase equipment, and fund programs. Mallow accused governments of using the cameras as a “cash grab” or “slush fund” to buy items not covered by general tax revenue.

Over the past two years, Savannah-Chatham County School Police have spent more than $221,000 on various initiatives, including graduation ceremonies, the Junior Police Academy, and equipment purchases. The school system claims that these expenditures comply with state law guidelines, which allow the use of traffic citation revenue for law enforcement and public safety purposes.

Superintendent Watts insists that the cameras are not a money-making scheme but rather a deterrent against speeding. “It is not a money grab. It is a deterrent for people to not speed,” she said.

For some parents, the issue is straightforward. Anything that ensures the safety of children is worth it. Donnette Robinson Clarke, a parent, expressed her view: “Make sure they don’t speed because the kids are our future and we can’t afford to hurt them.”

According to Blue Line Solutions, there were 11,190 unpaid citations awaiting court dates between January 1, 2024, and July 13, 2025. Those wishing to contest a citation issued in the City of Savannah can do so in Recorders Court, typically held on the first Friday of every month.

The debate over school speed cameras continues, with supporters emphasizing safety and critics raising concerns about fairness and transparency. As the new school year progresses, the conversation around these issues will likely remain a topic of discussion for communities, lawmakers, and families alike.