SB 172: Speed Detection Devices; all laws relative to enforcement of speeding violations in school zones through the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices; repeal

Georgia law currently lets local governments and police use automated traffic cameras to catch and fine drivers speeding in school zones, under a system set out in O.C.G.A. § 40-14-18 and related sections. This bill would repeal that entire framework, including the definitions of these camera systems, the rule that camera operators aren't private investigators, testing and calibration log requirements for the cameras, and the rule limiting how the school zone camera fines count toward a 35 percent cap on an agency's speeding-fine revenue. The bill also adds a new Code section immediately banning local governments or police agencies from signing new contracts, or renewing existing ones, for school zone camera enforcement. That contract ban would itself expire on July 1, 2026, the same date the broader repeal of the camera law takes effect, meaning the underlying legal authority for these cameras would be gone by then regardless.

• Repeals Code Section 40-14-18, the law that lets local governments use camera systems to issue civil fines for school zone speeding.
• Repeals the definitions section and the provision saying camera operators are not private investigators under Georgia law.
• Removes the requirements that agencies log camera self-tests every 30 days and perform independent calibration tests every 12 months.
• Immediately bans local governments and law enforcement agencies from entering new or renewed contracts for school zone camera enforcement, a ban that itself expires July 1, 2026.
• Removes the exclusion that let school zone camera fines and locations bypass certain visibility and revenue-cap rules that apply to other speed detection devices.
• Sets most of the repeal to take effect July 1, 2026, while the contract ban and effective-date provisions take effect as soon as the Governor signs the bill.

Local governments and police departments that currently operate school zone speed cameras, private companies that contract with local governments to run these camera systems, and drivers who are ticketed for school zone speeding through automated cameras rather than an officer's radar device.

If enacted, Georgia communities would lose the option to use automated cameras to catch school zone speeders, shifting enforcement back to traditional radar-based police stops. Local governments that rely on camera fine revenue or existing vendor contracts would need to unwind those arrangements before July 2026.

• Sections 1 through 3 repeal the definitions, the private-investigator exemption, and a permit provision tied to automated school zone cameras.
• Section 4 removes camera-specific testing and calibration logging requirements from the radar accuracy testing law (O.C.G.A. § 40-14-5).
• Section 7 removes the exclusion of school zone camera civil penalties from the calculation of a law enforcement agency's total speeding fine revenue.
• Section 8 repeals Code Section 40-14-18 outright, eliminating the legal basis for school zone camera enforcement and civil penalties.
• Section 9 adds a new Code Section 40-14-19 immediately barring new or renewed camera enforcement contracts, a ban that expires July 1, 2026.
• Section 10 makes the contract ban and administrative provisions effective upon the Governor's signature, but delays the repeal of Sections 1 through 8 until July 1, 2026.

1. 2025-02-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-13Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)Primary sponsor
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)

• school zone speed cameras
• traffic enforcement
• school zones
• local government contracts
• speeding fines