Voters Will Decide Future of Macon‑Bibb School Zone Speed Cameras

*TL;DR: A state law now requires Macon‑Bibb voters to approve keeping school‑zone speed cameras, a system that collected $4.2 million in 2024.

Context The Georgia General Assembly approved House Bill 651 at the close of its session. The bill mandates that any local government wishing to retain school‑zone speed cameras must first obtain voter approval. Existing cameras stay active until their contracts with private operators are up for renewal, typically each July.

Key Facts - Bibb County earned $4.2 million from speed‑camera tickets in 2024. Tickets are issued to drivers exceeding the limit by more than 10 mph during a two‑hour window around school start and end times. - The county contracts with Altumint, a Maryland firm that installs the cameras, processes citations and collects payments. Altumint receives a $25 cut per ticket; the county uses the remainder for public‑safety expenses such as crossing guards, truancy specialists and police equipment. - Under the new law, ticket fines drop from $100 to $75 for a first offense and from $150 to $125 for subsequent offenses. Funds must be spent exclusively on public safety or law‑enforcement initiatives. - The legislation also bans cameras on four‑lane roads lacking crosswalks and requires flashing yellow lights, speed‑indicator signs and posted notices. - Voters could face a ballot measure as early as July 2027 to decide whether to keep the cameras. - Community voices are split. Parent Becca Richard, who walks her son to Vineville Academy daily, argues the cameras add needed accountability. Opponents claim the program is a revenue generator rather than a safety tool.

What It Means The upcoming vote will test whether Macon‑Bibb residents value the safety benefits and funding stream enough to retain the cameras despite reduced fines and added restrictions. County officials will review the law’s implications before any action, while the private vendor’s contract automatically renews each July unless either party opts out. The outcome will shape how traffic enforcement and school‑zone safety are funded in the region.

What to watch next: The county’s review process, the final signature of Governor Brian Kemp on the bill, and the 2027 ballot question that will determine the cameras’ fate.