HB 651: Motor vehicles; use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in school zones; revise provisions

Georgia law already lets local governments use automated cameras to catch speeders in school zones, but HB 651 changes many of the details. It removes the old exception that let school zones, historic districts, and residential streets skip the general rule that a driver must be going more than 10 mph over the limit before a case can be made, since that exception is struck from Code Section 40-14-8. It creates fines against agencies or agents that intentionally misuse the cameras: $2,500 for a first violation and $5,000 for a second, with the state authorized to suspend a jurisdiction's permit after a third violation. The bill also updates warning-sign standards to require flashing yellow lights, caps processing fees on civil penalties at $10 instead of $25, bars late fees and taxes on camera penalties, and lets district attorneys and solicitors-general prosecute unpaid penalties. Most changes take effect July 1, 2026, but the new sign rules and a requirement that counties or cities get local voter approval by referendum before using school zone cameras take effect July 1, 2027.

• Repeals the exception that let school zones, historic districts, and residential streets skip the requirement that a driver be more than 10 mph over the limit before a speeding case can be made.
• Creates state fines of $2,500 for a first intentional misuse of an automated traffic camera and $5,000 for a second, with permit suspension possible after a third violation.
• Requires new warning signs for school zone cameras to include flashing yellow lights and sets updated placement and size standards, effective July 1, 2027.
• Lowers the cap on electronic processing fees added to camera citations from $25 to $10 and bans late fees or taxes on those penalties.
• Requires counties and cities to get voter approval through a referendum before entering or renewing a contract to use school zone speed cameras, starting July 1, 2027.
• Lets district attorneys, solicitors-general, and other prosecuting attorneys enforce unpaid civil penalties from school zone camera violations.

Local governments and police departments that operate school zone speed cameras, drivers cited by those cameras, school districts near camera locations, the Georgia Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety, and district attorneys and solicitors-general who would gain new enforcement duties.

Drivers in school zones could see fewer camera-based tickets for the smallest speeding margins but stiffer state penalties against agencies that misuse the systems. Communities that already use or want to use school zone cameras would need to win a local voter referendum to keep or start the program after mid-2027.

• Section 3 repeals the old exception in O.C.G.A. § 40-14-8 that applied the 10-mph threshold differently in school zones, historic districts, and residential areas.
• Section 4 adds new fines under O.C.G.A. § 40-14-11: $2,500 for a first intentional violation of camera enforcement rules and $5,000 for a second, with permit suspension after a third.
• Section 8 revises O.C.G.A. § 40-14-18 to lower the electronic processing fee cap from $25 to $10, ban late fees and taxes on penalties, and add a citation notice stating drivers can contest liability in court.
• Section 2 requires school zone camera warning signs to include flashing yellow lights, effective July 1, 2027.
• Section 9 creates new O.C.G.A. § 40-14-19, requiring a local referendum before a county or municipality can use school zone speed cameras, with approval lasting six years.
• Sections 10 through 13 authorize district attorneys, solicitors-general, and other prosecuting attorneys to enforce unpaid civil penalties tied to school zone camera citations.
• Section 14 sets the general effective date as July 1, 2026, but delays the sign and referendum requirements (Sections 2 and 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 tickets and fines
• Georgia motor vehicle law