Beginning Tuesday, August 1, Macon-Bibb County will again fully enforce the speed limits around schools using the automated camera system, where they are installed.

“We definitely saw a reduction in speed around schools last year, whether there were cameras at the school or not, and we are looking to add them to even more schools this year,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “With the camera enforcement, we are able to begin changing people’s behavior, improve everyone’s safety in these areas, and allow our deputies to focus on other issues.”

The cameras actively enforce the speed limit on school days when classes are in session from one hour before the start of school until one hour after dismissal. The start and end times and the enforcement times are below. The flashing lights in a school zone only indicate the reduced limit around the start and end times. The cameras enforce both the reduced speed limit and the regular speed limit in the middle of the day.

Cameras will enforce the speed limit for the following school zones: Northeast High & Appling Middle, Rutland Middle & High, Weaver Middle, Westside High, Ballard-Hudson Middle & Ingram-Pye Elementary, and Southwest High. Several private and charter schools have also agreed to have the speed limit near them enforced with cameras, and those will be active within the next 90 days. The warning period and enforcement for those zones will begin once all the lighting and signage has been installed.

“Driving slower around school is so important and can save lives, and that’s why we’re making sure people obey the speed limit,” says Mayor Miller. “This problem is more prevalent than people realize, and we’re asking people to drive slower and safer near our children.”

High School

School Time: 7:30 a.m. – 2:35 p.m.

Enforcement: 6:30 a.m. – 3:35 p.m.

Middle School

School Time: 9:05 a.m. – 4:05 p.m.

Enforcement: 8:05 a.m. – 5:05 p.m.

Elementary School

School Time: 8:20 a.m. – 3:20 p.m.

Enforcement: 7:20 a.m. – 4:20 p.m.

NOTE: Several school zones are shared by different schools, giving them the following enforcement times.

Appling Middle & Northeast High – 6:30 a.m. – 5:05 p.m.

Rutland Middle & Rutland High – 6:30 a.m. – 5:05 p.m.

Ingram-Pye Elementary & Ballard-Hudson Middle – 7:20 a.m. – 5:05 p.m.

Citations using the cameras are only issued only when a vehicle travels within a school zone more than 10 miles per hour of the posted speed limit. The first citation will be $100, and each subsequent citation will be $150. Money collected from these fines shall only be used to fund local law enforcement or public safety initiatives.

These citations will not show up on a person’s driving record nor be used for “points” with their insurance. All citations are reviewed by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office to ensure its compliance with Macon-Bibb’s Code.

“Our administration has been focused on improving public safety at all levels because our community said it was their top priority,” says Mayor Miller.