NAHUNTA — The Nahunta Police Department will launch an automated photo speed enforcement program centered on Nahunta Elementary School.
The roll out will be in two phases. Starting August 6, Nahunta Police Department will begin an initial warning period. During this warning period, speed violators during the flashing light times while school is in session and children are present will receive a warning in the mail marked in red advising of the dat and time the violation occurred. Warning citations are meant as a reminder to slow down and carry no monetary implications.
After the 30-day warning period, live enforcement will begin September 6. At this time, motorists exceeding the posted school zone speed limit by 10 or more miles per hour will receive a citation in the mail. These citations are civil in nature, carry a $75 fine for first time offenders and $125 for any subsequent violations, but do not come with points against your license, or insurance penalties.
Speed studies conducted in 2023 at the Bedford School identified a significant problem with speeding in the school area, recording 5,570 violations in a 5day period.
In the Nahunta Elementary School zone, there were 9,748 drivers in one week. Of those vehicles, 2,295 were speeding. Of those speeding, 195 drivers were exceeding 21 mph over the posted school speed limit.
Photo speed cameras will be active and enforced on days that school is in session, children are present and when the school zone beacons are flashing.
“If you are traveling through the Nahunta Elementary School zone during school hours, these cameras will be active,” said Nahunta Police Chief Brad Todd. “Our goal is to increase safety for students, parents, teachers, and the motoring public traveling through the Nahunta Elementary School zone. This program combines robust public information and education, along with a 30-day warning period to encourage people to slow down and change their driving behavior.”
Todd said all school zones are clearly marked with posted speed limit signs. Zones will also have flashing lights and additional road signs to capture a vehicle’s speed and give advance warning to the driver of the upcoming school zone. Cameras will be used to identify any non-compliant motorists traveling at 10 or more miles per hour over the posted speed limit.
“We are committed to changing driver behavior, slowing speeders down, and protecting our children,” says Todd. “Please drive safely in our school zones and in our community. Working together, we can achieve our goal of zero. Zero crashes, zero injuries, and zero endangered lives.”
