City of Guyton hoping cameras reduce school zone speeding

GUYTON, Ga. (WTOC) - A heads up to Guyton drivers, speed cameras will be implemented at Guyton Elementary school when kids go back to class this fall.

“What we’ve found through the years, during school hours people speed,” said Guyton Police Chief James Breletic.

A statement backed up by data collected during a recent speed study in front of Guyton Elementary.

During the course of the 5-day study in March of this year they recorded 684 speeding violations. A number Guyton PD is now hoping to bring down.

“We want to get the information out to tell our citizens, the people who visit Guyton, please slowdown in the school area,” Chief Breletic pleads.

But now they’re getting a new tool to help encourage drivers to do just that.

“You do something wrong, there’s a consequence,” Chief Breletic says.

That consequence, a ticket from a speed camera.

“And from talking to other agencies that have these cameras, it’s actually worked really well,” said the Chief.

What makes Central Blvd. in Guyton unique for a school zone camera is that the posted speed limit and the school zone speed limit are both 35mph.

Meaning drivers shouldn’t have to slam on the brakes to avoid getting a ticket in a school zone.

“It’s a deterrent. Again, children are some of the most important things we have in this world. I mean, that’s our future,” Chief Breletic said.

The cameras will be active from an hour before school starts to an hour after it lets out.

The money from the tickets will be divided between Blue Line Solutions, who installs the cameras, and the City of Guyton.

While the Chief says that money can be put to good use, in all honesty, he wishes they didn’t need to do this just to get people to do the right thing.

“It’s a shame we have to have a device like this to assist us. It’s not about the money it’s about the children, please slow down.”

Drivers will get a citation in the mail if you go more than 10 miles over the posted speed limit in the school zone.

There will a 30 day warning period where you won’t have to pay a fine.

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