Hattiesburg launching pilot program for school zone speeding cameras
PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) - Lead-foot drivers in Hattiesburg school zones: Beware.
“Starting next Monday we will be using cameras in school zones with our officers who are already on scene,” said Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker.
Beginning Monday, April 22, drivers will see an officer with a handheld radar gun and camera to catch speeding drivers during active school zones at two Hattiesburg schools as part of a pilot program.
Enforcement will take place around Hardy Street and 21st Avenue by Woodley Elementary and West 7th Street by Grace Christian Elementary.
While some have questioned whether the process is legal, Mayor Barker explained why the practice does not violate the state law.
“This is not actually automatic cameras, which are the things prohibited by law,” said Barker. “These are actually cameras triggered by the officers who are on scene. So when you see these cameras, you will also see a traffic officer who is out there actually working them and so this allows us to more efficiently use our officers to try and catch speeders in school zones.”
The city is partnering with a new Mississippi company called IntelliSafe for the technology.
Statistics from a new Mississippi company, IntelliSafe, showed that in the two pilot school zones, more than 76 percent of people were driving at least 31 mph in the 15 mph zones. (Stats come from IntelliSafe)
The numbers are alarming for parents.
“When we can have more vigilance around our children whenever it comes to their safety and taking a little more time to go through this intersection and be present and be focused is a good thing,” said Darla Malone, whose children walk to school.
Hattiesburg Police say the camera will record video and images, including a speeding driver’s license plate to document the infraction. The citation will be sent to the offender in the mail.
“The violator will have three options. One, to pay the citation. Two, to go through the diversion program, which the citation will be reduced and go through a class similar to a driving class, and third they can show up in court to contest it,” said HPD Chief Hardy Sims.
According to an agreement between the city and IntelliSafe, if a driver chooses the diversion program the city, state, and company will all collect revenue from the violation.
Offenders in the program will pay a reduced fine of $230.
Of that money, $130 goes to IntelliSafe, $75 goes to the city and $25 to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
The diversion option keeps the ticket from being reported to a driver’s insurance company and requires the offender to go through an online safety course.
“Once the general public understands that there is the possibility that an officer will be there with this system. Hopefully, they will change their behavior, slow down in the school zones and obey the traffic laws,” said Sims.
The city will use the pilot program to work out logistics like a threshold for receiving a speeding citation, repeat offenders using the diversion program, and instances when a vehicle owner claims someone else was driving at the time of the offense.
If the program goes well, you could see the technology at more schools next year.
“I hope that people knowing this is coming will slow down, will take care, will pay attention. This is only during the active school zone periods, so we are talking about 45 minutes to an hour in the morning and maybe 30 minutes in the afternoon,” said Barker.
Hattiesburg is the first city in Mississippi to use the technology.
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