The Dalton Police Department will begin an automated photo speed enforcement program in the Dalton High School and Roan Street Elementary school zones during student drop-off and pick-up periods on Monday. For the first 30 days, warnings will be issued to speeding drivers. Beginning April 29, citations for speeding will begin to be mailed out.
The cameras will be operational only during the morning and afternoon pick-up/drop-off periods when schools are in session and the school zone speed limits are in effect and school zone speed limit signs are flashing. In the Dalton High School zone, they will operate from 6:31 a.m.-7:30 a.m. and from 2:16 p.m.-3:15 p.m. In the Roan Street School zone, they will operate from 7:31 a.m.-8:30 a.m. and from 3:26 p.m.-4:25 p.m. The school zone speed limit in both zones is 30 miles per hour. Warnings or citations will be issued to motorists driving at 10+ miles per hour over the limit.
Speed studies conducted in August 2023 in the school zones for Dalton High School and Roan Street Elementary School identified a significant problem with speeding. More than 48,000 vehicles traveled through the school zones in a one-week period, with 7,779 speed violations in a 5-day period. That means more than 16% of the cars in the school zone were speeding, including 417 vehicles (5.36%) traveling more than 21 miles per hour over the speed limit. Statistics provided by AAA show that a child struck by a vehicle traveling 40 MPH, only has a one in 10 chance of survival. However, if the vehicle is traveling at 20 MPH, research suggests that same child has a nine in 10 chance of survival. Speeding is also a primary contributing factor in motor vehicle crashes resulting in personal injury and deaths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 64% of fatal crashes involving child pedestrians happen on weekdays.
Monday will start the initial warning period. During this warning period, violators will receive a warning in the mail marked in red advising of the violation that occurred on such date and time. Warning citations serve as a reminder to slow down in school zones and do not involve a fine. Live enforcement starts on Tuesday, April 29. At this time, motorists that exceed the posted school zone speed limit at 10+ MPH will receive a citation in the mail. These citations are civil in nature, carry a $100 fee for the first offense ($75 fine plus a $25 processing charge), but do not come with points against your license or insurance penalties. The second and subsequent violations carry a $150 fee ($125 fine plus a $25 processing) but similarly do not incur points on your license or insurance penalties.
The goal of this program is to increase safety for students, teachers, and parents as well as the driving public traveling in the Dalton High School and Roan Street Elementary School zones. This program is combining a public information and education campaign along with a 30-day warning period to encourage people to slow down and change their driving behavior. School zones are clearly marked with posted speed limit signs as well as signs advising motorists that speed limits are enforced with cameras. Zones will also have flashing lights and additional road signs to capture a vehicle’s speed and give advance warning to the driver of the upcoming school zone. Cameras will be used to identify any non-compliant motorists traveling at 10+ MPH over the posted speed limit.
Officials said, "The Dalton Police Department is committed to changing driver behavior, slowing speeders down, and protecting our children. Please drive safely in our school zones and in our community. Working together, we can achieve our goal of ZERO: 'Zero crashes, Zero injuries, and Zero endangered lives.'”
For more information on the school zone speed camera program, visit daltonga.gov/schoolzone.