ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - To ban or not to ban? That’s the question Georgia legislatures are debating right now when it comes to school zone speed cameras.

In Albany, the system that’s been in place for four years has generated over $14 million in revenue from citations issued.

But where is all the money going? Albany Police Chief Michael Persley said you can see that money being put right back into the community.

“When you look out our gunshot detection program, you look at our pan tilt zoom cameras, you look at our license plate readers, I would not have been able to roll out that project as quickly as we did,” he said.

As of Oct. 31, 2024, 8.3 million dollars was collected through Albany school zone cameras, officials say that 5.1 million of those dollars were used for projects leaving Albany Police with at least 3.2 million dollars. But now Persley said safety initiatives funded by the school cameras are in jeopardy as Georgia lawmakers decide to adopt House Bill 225. The bill would put an end to the speed device that so many drivers have vocally opposed.

“To completely ban in, I’m not in agreement with that. I think it’s taking a step a little too far,” Persley said.

Persley said throughout four years the cameras have been successful at changing driver’s behaviors.

An Albany school zone camera study shows there was a 95% reduction in speed violators in 2024. Improved driving behavior is also shown in this graph. According to the company over the cameras system, 88% of violators received less than two citations last year.

Coffee County Sheriff Fred Cole said he supports getting rid of the cameras as several drivers have questioned if they are a money grab.

“The proof is in the pudding. That generates millions and millions of dollars that I just think is unjustly claimed,” he said.

Instead, Cole said local agencies should use increased patrols to monitor speed zones.

“I think you get back down to policing. You put a deputy or police officer in the school zone that sees you do the infraction, that pulls you over that writes you the ticket and I think that’s the only way to do it,” he said.

As local law enforcement waits to see if the speed device will be banned or not, they say overall what’s top of mind for them is student safety.

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