Drivers traveling through school zones in Chatham County will continue to encounter speed cameras as students return to class, as both the Savannah Police Department (SPD) and the Chatham County Police Department (CCPD) will operate school zone camera programs.
SPD reactivated its school zone speed cameras Monday, Aug. 3, issuing warnings for the first two weeks before citations begin Aug. 17. The cameras will be active 45 minutes before school begins, remain operational throughout the school day and deactivate 30 minutes after dismissal.
CCPD initially said last week that its school zone speed cameras would not be operational at the start of the school year while the department worked to comply with new requirements under Georgia House Bill 651, which took effect July 1. However, the department later clarified that both of its school zone speed cameras will remain operational for the upcoming school year.
CCPD Chief Jeff Hadley said school zone speed cameras have reduced overall speeding in its school zones by 96%. "We value them as a crucial safety device. New state laws require us to re-license the cameras through the Georgia Department of Transportation, and that multi-step process will take time."
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The now reversed temporary suspension stems from changes lawmakers made to school zone speed camera programs earlier this year. HB651 added new requirements for school zone speed camera programs across the state, including clearer warning signs, regular camera accuracy testing and a formal complaint process. The law also requires local governments to obtain voter approval before continuing to operate school zone speed cameras, with existing programs required to go before voters by July 1, 2027.
Additionally, each school zone speed camera must be relicensed by the local municipality where it is located, giving local governments the opportunity to decide whether to continue using the technology.
The Garden City Police Department told the Savannah Morning News on Tuesday that it will no longer use school zone speed cameras, citing the new state law and uncertainty over future changes to the program.
Unlike Garden City, Chatham County Police say they intend to resume using the cameras once the relicensing process is complete. CCPD began using school zone speed cameras during the 2021-22 school year at eight school locations throughout unincorporated Chatham County.
According to the department, speed studies conducted before the cameras were installed found thousands of drivers traveling at least 11 mph over the speed limit during a five-day period in several school zones.
At May Howard Elementary, 3,620 speeding vehicles were recorded before the cameras were installed. A speed study conducted in May 2026 found that number had dropped to 20, a 99.4% reduction.
Overall, the department said the cameras have reduced speeding in its school zones by approximately 95% to 96%.
Hadley encouraged drivers to pay attention to school zone signs, obey crossing guards, watch for children walking or biking to school and be prepared to slow down when approaching schools.
"We know that a child hit by a vehicle traveling 40 miles per hour only has a one in ten chance of surviving their injuries," Hadley said. "If the speed of a vehicle is reduced to 20 miles per hour, the chances of that child surviving are nine in ten. That statistic alone should make every driver slow down to ensure the safety of children on their way to and from school."
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Meanwhile, Savannah's school zone cameras will begin operating on the first day of school and issue warnings before citations begin Aug. 17.
Under the new law, motorists must be traveling more than 10 mph over the applicable school zone speed limit to receive a citation.
A first violation carries a $75 fine plus a $10 processing fee, while second and subsequent violations carry a $125 fine plus the $10 processing fee. Violations remain civil penalties that do not add points to a driver's license or affect insurance rates.
Ansley Franco is a reporter with the Savannah Morning News, covering public safety and general assignments. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: School zone speed cameras returning across Chatham County