HB651: HB651 Motor vehicles; use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in school zones; revise provisions

Georgia law already allows local governments to use automated cameras to catch drivers speeding in school zones, under a system set up in O.C.G.A. Title 40, Chapter 14. This bill revises several parts of that system. It updates warning sign requirements, repeals an exception that let some speed cases skip the 10-mile-per-hour buffer, and adds a new investigation and penalty process for agencies that misuse the cameras, including fines of $2,500 for a first violation and $5,000 for a second, plus possible permit suspension after a third. The bill also caps the electronic processing fee added to camera fines at $10 instead of $25, bars late fees and taxes on these penalties, and lets counties or cities shorten the timeline for issuing citations. Most significantly, it requires any county or municipality to hold a local referendum asking voters to approve camera enforcement in school zones for a six-year period before using or renewing such a program. Most sections take effect July 1, 2026, but the sign and referendum sections take effect July 1, 2027.

• Requires counties and municipalities to hold a local voter referendum before starting or renewing a contract to use automated speed cameras in school zones.
• Repeals the exception that let school zones, historic districts, and residential zones skip the requirement that a driver be at least 10 miles per hour over the limit before a case can be made.
• Creates a new investigation and penalty process, with fines of $2,500 for a first violation and $5,000 for a second violation, for agencies that misuse the cameras.
• Authorizes the state to suspend a local government's camera permit for up to 12 months after a third violation and sets up hearing and appeal rights.
• Lowers the cap on electronic processing fees added to camera citations from $25 to $10 and bans late fees and taxes on the civil penalties.
• Updates warning sign size, placement, and flashing light requirements for school zone camera enforcement, effective July 1, 2027.

Counties and municipalities that operate or want to operate school zone speed cameras, local law enforcement agencies and their officers, drivers who receive citations, district attorneys, solicitors-general, and prosecuting attorneys who enforce the civil penalties, and voters who would decide referendums on camera use.

Local governments that currently run or plan to run school zone cameras would need voter approval every six years to keep doing so, and agencies that break the rules would face direct fines and possible loss of their permits. Drivers would see lower processing fees and no late fees on unpaid camera tickets.

• Section 3 repeals the exception in O.C.G.A. § 40-14-8 that let school zones, historic districts, and residential zones make speeding cases without the standard 10-mile-per-hour buffer.
• Section 4 sets fines of $2,500 for a first violation and $5,000 for a second violation of camera enforcement rules, with permit suspension possible after a third violation, under O.C.G.A. § 40-14-11.
• Section 8 caps the electronic processing fee on camera citations at $10 (down from $25) and bans late fees on unpaid civil monetary penalties, under O.C.G.A. § 40-14-18.
• Section 9 adds a new Code Section 40-14-19 requiring a local referendum, with specific ballot language, before a county or municipality can use or renew automated camera enforcement in school zones for a six-year term.
• Section 9 also bars a jurisdiction from resubmitting a rejected referendum question to voters for three years.
• Sections 10 through 13 amend Title 15 to authorize district attorneys, solicitors-general, and municipal and probate court prosecuting attorneys to enforce these civil penalties.
• Section 14 sets the general effective date as July 1, 2026, but delays the sign requirements (Section 2) and the referendum requirement (Section 9) until July 1, 2027.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-12Act 711
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-04-02House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2026-03-25Senate Transmitted House (Senate)
7. 2026-03-25Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub As Amended (Senate)
8. 2025-04-04House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended (House)

• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)Primary sponsor
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• James Burchett (R, HD-176)
• Bruce Williamson (R, HD-112)
• Rob Leverett (R, HD-123)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2025

   164 yea, 8 nay (4 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #170

2. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

   140 yea, 29 nay (3 not voting, 8 absent)

   Agree To Senate Sub As House Amended: House Vote #446

3. PassedSenate voteApril 4, 2025

   40 yea, 15 nay (0 not voting, 1 absent)

   Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 44th: Senate Vote #453

4. PassedSenate voteApril 4, 2025

   51 yea, 3 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #454

5. FailedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   23 yea, 27 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)

   Adoption Of Amend #1a By Sen From The 30th To Amend #1 By Sen From The 29th: Senate Vote #816

6. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   49 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #817

7. PassedHouse voteApril 3, 2026

   156 yea, 14 nay (5 not voting, 1 absent)

   Agree To Senate Amend To Ham To Ssub: House Vote #878

• school zone speed cameras
• traffic enforcement
• local referendums
• traffic fines
• school safety