GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County Police are seeing a significant drop in school zone speeders this school year.
Data obtained by 11Alive shows the department issued 6,289 citations in the first four weeks of the 2023 school year.
But now, it issued 4,386 citations for the same time frame this school year -- representing a roughly 30% drop.
"We have seen a lot less citations," Sergeant Colin Flynn told 11Alive. "As people have recognized that they must slow down in the school zone and otherwise they can be cited, we believe that they have stopped speeding and that the citations have gone down as a result."
Gwinnett County added five school zone cameras after the first four weeks of school in 2023. There are now 17 total monitored by county police.
Even with more cameras, the data showed a downward trend in citations.
"We do believe that this is a testament to the success of these cameras and that they do work in slowing traffic down in and around our schools," Flynn said. "The police department is not trying to generate revenue by putting these cameras out there. We are just trying to keep our schools safe. We're trying to slow traffic down as people pass by the schools."
The cameras start an hour before school and remain on until an hour after school ends. Only drivers going 11mph above the speed limit or more are cited.
County officials said it is a completely violator-funded program with no cost to taxpayers.
"We believe that this is a way that we can ensure that traffic is not only safe in and around the schools but so children can come and go from school in a safe manner," Flynn said.