Thursday, February 20, 2025–10:45 a.m.
-Rome Police Department-
In an ongoing effort to improve the safety of students and pedestrians in our community, the City of Rome is announcing the expansion of its successful School Zone Safety Program to include West Central Elementary School. This initiative will see the installation of automated speed enforcement cameras, following the success of similar programs at Main Elementary School and Rome High School. Since the introduction of these cameras, the city has experienced an impressive 97% decrease in speeding violations compared to initial traffic studies, significantly improving safety for students and families.
The new cameras at West Central Elementary will be operational during school hours, from one hour before the school day begins until one hour after dismissal. The system will utilize state-of-the-art technology, including Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) and high-definition video cameras, to monitor and enforce speed limits in the school zone.
The program, which is in partnership with leading speed enforcement company RedSpeed, is fully funded through fines collected from violators, with no financial burden placed on taxpayers. RedSpeed will cover the costs of the cameras, equipment maintenance, and other operational infrastructure, ensuring the program remains sustainable.
“At RedSpeed, we are proud to partner with the City of Rome in expanding this critical school zone safety program. The success we’ve seen at Main Elementary and Rome High School is a testament to how automated speed enforcement can effectively protect students and families. By introducing this technology at West Central Elementary, we’re further strengthening our commitment to the safety of the entire community and ensuring our children can walk to and from school with peace of mind,” said Greg Parks, Senior Vice President of RedSpeed.
The cameras will issue citations to drivers exceeding the posted speed limit by over 10 miles per hour. A 30-day warning period will begin this spring semester, during which no fines will be issued. After this period, violators will face a civil fine of $75 for the first violation and $125 for subsequent violations. Importantly, these fines do not result in points on a driver’s record or affect insurance premiums.
In addition to the camera enforcement, prominent warning signs will be placed in school zones to inform drivers of the upcoming speed enforcement cameras. These signs will serve as a reminder to reduce speed and drive cautiously in school zones.
The City of Rome encourages all drivers to stay vigilant and adhere to posted speed limits. By working together, we can ensure that our children remain safe as they travel to and from school every day.
