COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Cobb County leaders are considering expanding its camera system to catch speeders.
It's a proposal as leaders look toward improvements for next year. The Cobb County Commission recently met with state lawmakers ahead of the legislative session to give them a wish list of laws they like to see changed.
This time — expanding the use of cameras to catch speeders to generate revenue and reduce crime was a prime topic.
"Speeding is a problem," Rep. Don Parsons (District 44) said. "It kills people."
Parsons has represented Cobb County for nearly 30 years. He said speeding is a public safety issue but sees a proposal by Cobb County Commissioners to expand speed cameras in the state as a polarizing issue.
“Sometimes speed limits are set too low to kind of catch people when they think it should be a little higher and to catch people for revenue," he said. "I think that’s one of the main reasons there’s some opposition to it.”
Under the proposal, municipalities across the state could install speed cameras and use the revenue generated from fines to fund local law enforcement agencies – but Rep. Dave Wilkerson (District 38) said that plan goes down a dangerous path.
“If it increases public safety, I’m OK somewhat with speed cameras," he said. "If it's used as a revenue source, I am completely against using any kind of fines to fund our public safety.”
The Cobb County District Attorney's Office and the Georgia Department of Transportation were contacted to comment on the proposal Friday. The offices did not respond to inquiries.
Both Parsons and Wilkerson said that state lawmakers consider the Commission’s wish list but many of the proposals take years to pass. Some don’t even make it off the voting floor.
Lawmakers go back into their regular session in January.