WR prepares for speed cameras near schools

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The city of Warner Robins plans to have their upcoming Red Speed cameras installed sometime in early April. After a 45-day warning period, those cameras will be put into active use — here’s what you need to know beforehand.

According to interim Assistant Polic Chief Wayne Fisher, who provided The Journal with an overview of the cameras, this system works specifically in deterring speeders, this time in school zones.

Warner Robins’ Red Speed cameras are currently in the process of being installed — according to Fisher, Flint Energies is hooking the Red Speed cameras into a power source —and will be located around Northside High School, Warner Robins High School, Huntington Middle School and Lake Joy Elementary and Primary schools.

After the traffic cameras are officially installed the city of Warner Robins will start a 45-day grace period, informing drivers who commonly travel through the area of the camera’s presence, and allowing them to adjust their driving habits as necessary. Signs will be posted near each camera’s location to inform driver’s of a photo-enforced speed zone.

It’s important to note that once installed, Warner Robins’ Red Speed cameras will track the speeds of vehicles passing through their area during the entire school day, including pick-up and drop-off times — not just during reduced speed hours. According to Fisher, these cameras will check for drivers travelling at the reduced speed limit during the specified school zone times, and the regular speed limit during normal school hours. After the afternoon’s reduced speed time, the Red Speed cameras won’t be active again, and won’t collect data again, until the next school day comes into session.

If a driver’s license plate is captured after the Red Speed cameras determined they were speeding, the information will be sent to Warner Robins Police to check for accuracy. If the speeder is deemed to have in-fact been speeding, a civil fine will be issued to the individual attached to the car’s license plate, as well as instructions on how to pay it. A civil fine does not add points to your license and comes at a reduced fine in comparison to an average speeding ticket.

These cameras are not operational during weekends, or holidays when school is out of session, nor during the summer or spring break — except for when summer school is in session.

Interim Chief Roy Whitehead spoke with The Journal briefly on the necessity of this camera system.

“It helps to create a safer environment all around the schools,” Whitehead said. “What we do know is that a lot of the children that have been hit in motor-vehicle accidents are crossing roads while school is in session. It allows us to be much more effective and efficient — say an officer is working a school zone and they get a speeder, but six more may speed by while he’s dealing with the first. The system allows us to catch all violators. It treats everybody the same.”

In an effort to curb any confusion, here’s a list of all government-operated camera systems in Houston County:

Warner Robins

o Red Speed: these cameras will operate as described above near Northside High School, Warner Robins High School, Huntington Middle School and Lake Joy Elementary and Primary schools. They collect the speed of passing vehicles, and photos of license plates as needed.

o Flock cameras: These cameras are part of a county-wide initiative. These cameras monitor Warner Robins’ roadways and major areas, and are able to read license plates and identify specified vehicles. They are perpetually active, and feeding information to a larger system accessed by the county’s law enforcement agencies, and law enforcement agencies across the US if necessary. These cameras will eventually be in place across the county, Warner Robins is the only group to already have some active. While Red Speed is used for traffic-law enforcement in school zones, the Flock system is used as a force multiplier for police, allowing them to track specific vehicles for the use of investigations and crime determent.

o Fusus cameras: this camera system is the newest for Warner Robins. Rather than install additional cameras themselves, this system allows local citizens and business owners to opt in and provide their security system’s recording as necessary, specifically upon the request of Warner Robins Police Department. Local businesses with security cameras also have the ability to offer a live feed. This system is used by WRPD specifically when investigating a crime.

Perry

o Red Speed: similarly to Warner Robins, Perry monitors the speed of travelers on roadways near Matt Arthur Elementary School, Perry High School, Morningside Elementary School and Tucker Elementary School, through Red Speed cameras. In Perry’s case, these cameras are active thirty minutes before each school’s posted start time to thirty minutes after, and from thirty before school ends to thirty minutes after. They track speed of travelling passerby and take photos of speeder’s license plates. If a speeder’s license plate is captured, and determined by Perry Police Department to be speeding in a school zone, a civil fine will be issued to the driver.

Houston County

o Blue Line: this system is a set of cameras intended to reduce speeding in school zones within the county. Located at Houston County High School and Eagle Springs Elementary School, these cameras track the speed of passing vehicles and take a picture of the driver’s license plate. The Blue Line cameras are active during the school day and reduced-speed times, and will send speeder information to Houston County Sheriff’s Office to check for accuracy; if determined to be correct, the vehicle’s owner will be issued a civil fine.

As more information becomes available on local police-operated camera systems, you can read about it in The Houston Home Journal.

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