Beginning Monday, November 28, Macon-Bibb County will again fully enforce the speed limits around schools using the automated camera system, where they are installed. (School is not in session November 21-27, so the cameras are not being used.)

“Enforcing the speed limit around our schools is necessary to protecting our children and community, so the camera enforcement is about changing behaviors,” says Mayor Miller. “With people getting multiple tickets in these first few months – some getting dozens – we think they are getting the message that we are serious about protecting our children.”

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 for a school zone indicate a reduced limit; enforcement by the cameras happens all day long.

So far, cameras have been installed for the school zones around: Northeast High & Appling Middle, Rutland Middle & High, Weaver Middle, Westside High, Ballard-Hudson Middle & Ingram-Pye Elementary, and Southwest High. They will eventually be installed at every public school.

“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.”

Middle School
9:05 a.m. – 4:05 p.m.
Enforcement: 8:05 a.m. – 5:05 p.m.

High School
7:30 a.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Enforcement: 6:30 a.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Elementary School
8:20 a.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Enforcement: 7:20 a.m. – 4:20 p.m.

Northwoods Academy
8:20 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Enforcement: 7:20 a.m. – 4:00 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.

About the Temporary Grace Period

Macon-Bibb County announced on November 9 they would make temporary changes to how tickets are issued for people speeding near schools when they are in session. These changes lasted through November 18, and normal enforcement using the cameras will begin again November 28. (School is not in session the week of Thanksgiving, so the cameras will not be enforcing the speed limit.)

From the start of the program through November 18, violating vehicles would be issued a maximum of one speeding ticket per vehicle.
Any unpaid speeding tickets above the maximum limit of one are being dismissed, meaning owners of vehicles with multiple tickets outstanding only need to pay one violation total.
Any payments made for tickets above the maximum limit of one will be refunded before the end of this year.
Beginning Monday, November 28, tickets will be issued for every school zone speed limit violation.