School zone speeding cameras pilot program kicks off in Hattiesburg

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - Hattiesburg Police Department officers using hand-held radar cameras are officially posted up on the corner of Hardy Street and 21st Avenue near Woodley Elementary and West 7th Street near Grace Christian Elementary.

Right now, HPD is only using the new technology in the two school zones as a part of the pilot program, but if all goes well, they plan to spread this to the other school zones in the fall.

The city wants people to know these cameras are not automatic but will be used to assist officers in catching speeding drivers.

“These cameras are not automated, and those are the ones that are prohibited by law,” said Tate Rutland, HPD public information officer.

“So, the cameras are triggered by an officer operating the radar gun on the scene.”

HPD said once an officer notices a car that appears to be driving fast, the officer will then uses the radar gun to verify the speed. The camera will capture a picture of the driver’s license plate and a video of the incident.

City officials say the system is working as expected, and drivers who were caught speeding in the school zone while the lights are flashing could receive a ticket in the mail.

Potential violations will first be reviewed and verified before a citation is issued.



Police hope the enforcement of school zone speed limits will change people’s behavior when driving through a school zone.

“Ultimately our goal with this initiative is to help people to stop speeding in the areas where our youngest members are present,” said Rutland.

We hoped for an estimation of the number of potential violators on the first day, but HPD says those numbers are not yet available.

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This story was originally published at WDAM