Atlanta velocity cameras ILLEGALLY collected as much as $500K in fines from unfairly ticketed drivers – NaturalNews.com

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June 17, 2024

Atlanta velocity cameras ILLEGALLY collected as much as $500K in fines from unfairly ticketed drivers

Dashing cameras in Atlanta have improperly fined drivers within the metropolis, with the entire quantity of improper citations ranging from $350,000 to $500,000.

One investigation by Fox 5’s I-Group revealed that automated site visitors cameras have been improperly ticketing drivers for allegedly dashing in a 25-mile-per-hour faculty zone throughout occasions when the varsity zone’s lights weren’t flashing. With out the orange lights, drivers assumed the velocity restrict was 35 miles per hour.

Atlanta Public Colleges (APS) confirmed the discrepancy and introduced that affected drivers would receive refunds. A spokesperson acknowledged that the varsity system had been conscious of the difficulty since late November however didn’t clarify why the cameras, which {photograph} license plates and difficulty tickets, weren’t adjusted or turned off.

The I-Group analyzed quotation information obtained by means of a Georgia Open Data Act request, discovering that over seven months, 4,460 citations had been issued throughout occasions when the flashers weren’t working, probably complicated drivers. The full quantity in fines improperly collected possible ranges from $350,000 to $500,000.

Atlanta’s site visitors cameras infamous for improperly fining drivers

That is the third occasion the I-Group has uncovered of college zone cameras issuing incorrect tickets in metro Atlanta, following related points in Jonesboro and Riverdale final faculty yr. The most recent investigation started after drivers reported receiving tickets regardless of not dashing. (Associated: Police department in Pennsylvania using drone tech to crack down on theft and other petty crimes.)

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Ivan DeQuesada, a resident of east Atlanta, obtained a $75 quotation for going 39 in a 25-mile-per-hour zone at 4:52 p.m. on a Friday in March.

“I remembered what I used to be doing and realized the varsity zone gentle wasn’t on,” DeQuesada stated. He found that a number of neighbors had obtained related surprising tickets.

James Murphy, one other neighbor, obtained two tickets, and his spouse obtained one other. “They should not be making a living from automobiles driving when there is not any gentle blinking,” Murphy stated. “It looks like a cash seize somewhat than a security measure.”

In keeping with an APS schedule, the varsity zone lights outdoors Drew Constitution Faculty on the very jap fringe of Atlanta ought to activate from 7:15 to eight:30 a.m. and from 3:45 to five p.m. Nevertheless, the lights have been turning off round 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., creating two 15-minute home windows the place drivers had been wrongly ticketed.

Murphy challenged his tickets in Atlanta Municipal Courtroom, the place different drivers shared related experiences. “The signal wasn’t flashing,” stated Takeviuas Kelly of Ellenwood. Chief Choose Christopher T. Portis dismissed their citations.

The accountability for this difficulty is unclear. A non-public digicam firm, Verra Mobility, contracts with APS. The college zone velocity security program is run by APS alongside the Atlanta government, with the flashing lights managed by Atlanta’s Division of Transportation (Atlanta DOT) beneath the purview of the Georgia Division of Transportation (Georgia DOT).

In response to questions, APS acknowledged that they, together with Atlanta DOT and Verra Mobility, labored to appropriate the discrepancy. APS started requesting the correction in late November. Atlanta DOT sought authorization to regulate the flasher occasions from Georgia DOT on November 26, however approval got here on April 29, with changes made by Could 2.

APS and Verra Mobility didn’t clarify why the cameras continued issuing tickets throughout the 5 months earlier than the flasher occasions had been corrected. APS acknowledged that this system goals to make sure the protection of scholars and enhance driver conduct at school zones, although nobody from APS was accessible for an on-camera interview.

APS indicated that round 2,000 citations shall be refunded, though it’s unclear why this quantity is lower than half of the 4,460 tickets issued. Some refunds have already been processed, and the precise variety of drivers who efficiently contested their tickets in court docket is unknown.

GOP State Rep. Charles Cannon plans to reintroduce a invoice to ban automated faculty zone velocity cameras, citing considerations over whether or not they prioritize security or income. He requested: “I believe that is the underlying query: Are these cameras actually for security or are they for income?”

With the I-Group uncovering a 3rd occasion of unfair fines, Cannon commented, “I believe on this case, it type of leans extra in direction of … it’s about revenue.”

Watch this video explaining how speed cameras are a road safety scam promoted by the United Nations.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.