MACON, Ga. — Stratford Academy is the next school zone receiving speed cameras in Bibb County. While the cameras will be activated on Feb. 5, the county says ticketing will start about a month later on March 6.
“This is great that more schools are eager to help protect the safety of our children by making sure posted speed limits are followed during the school day," Mayor Lester Miller said. "This is about changing people's behavior, and if you have driven through a school zone the few months, you've definitely seen people slowing down."
In a release from Macon-Bibb County, they also note another set of schools will start fully ticketing on Feb. 5 after their own grace periods.
Carter Elementary, First Presbyterian Day School, Hartley Elementary, Heard Elementary, Springdale Elementary and Windsor Academy will start ticketing on Feb. 5.
These six schools and eventually Stratford Academy will join other school zones already enforcing limits. Those schools include Northeast High, Appling Middle, Rutland Middle & High, Weaver Middle, Westside High, Ballard-Hudson Middle & Ingram-Pye Elementary and Southwest High.
But Miller says it is their goal to have these cameras across Bibb County.
"Our goal is to have these important safety devices posted at every private and public school in our community," Miller said.
These cameras are only ticketing when a vehicle travels within a school zone 10 miles above the posted speed limit. Those citations ring in at $100 for the first offense and $150 for any additional offenses, the release said.
They say these fines will only go to fund law enforcement and public safety initiatives.
Miller says that the efforts are all part of keeping kids — and the community — safe.
“Our administration has been focused on improving public safety at all levels because our community said it was their top priority,” Miller said.
The county says that the citations from these cameras do not show up on a person's driving records and they do not count as "points" with insurance companies. They also say that the citations are reviewed by the sheriff's office.
These are the enforcement times as listed by the county:
Stratford: 7:15 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.
FPD: 7:15 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. 7:50 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. on Wednesday.
Windsor Academy: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Bibb Elementary Schools: 7:20 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.
Bibb Middle Schools: 8:05 a.m. to 5:05 p.m.
Bibb High Schools: 6:30 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.