What happens when you get a school zone speeding ticket in Macon?

School zone cameras have doled out tens of thousands of citations to speeding motorists in Macon, but recent legislation seeks to dismantle or limit the cameras.

Consequences of driving more than 10 mph over the speed limit in one of the 20 school zones where cameras are active include a $100 ticket for first violation and $150 for each subsequent violation.

A reduced speed limit is enforced an hour before and an hour after the school day, a county spokesperson said, but the cameras track the speed of passersby outside of those time frames. 

Schools also have differing opening and closing times, but a reduced speed limit can be noted by flashing lights above signs.

Altumint, a private Maryland-based company contracted by Macon-Bibb County, owns the  cameras in school zones and issues tickets. The company also handles payments, which are made online or by check mailed to an Atlanta post office box.

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office signs off on the tickets, according to public officials.

On the ticket, delivered by mail, drivers may find payment details, a due date, the posted speed limit, their vehicle speed and the date, location and time of the violation on their citations.

Should a driver want to challenge the citation, a hearing can be requested using the form attached to the ticket. Hearings are typically held in the mornings during the last week of the month. 

About 16 people showed up to their court date Tuesday at 8 a.m. to learn more about and dispute their citations.

The attorney representing Macon-Bibb County told folks the hearings can sometimes go on well past noon, while other days they finish within two hours.

Drivers can have an attorney represent them, but those at the courthouse Tuesday chose to represent themselves.

The docket that day included cases for tickets dating back to December. Though the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is no longer signing off on citations, tickets issued before March 19 at 6:30 p.m. are valid and must still be paid.

The prosecutor took defendants one by one into an office to discuss their citation before dismissing, accepting it or requiring further testimony or a hearing in front of a judge. 

Over about two hours, the prosecutor met one-on-one with all but five of the accused speeders. Then, Macon-Bibb County Municipal Court Judge Crystal Jones entered the room to begin proceedings.  

Jones told drivers the burden of proof is on them and, to get the citations dismissed, they would need to bring forth hard evidence, like a written document, video or photos, to back up their claims. 

Jones said she cannot change the amount due for the citation or the payment deadline.

“These are civil violations,” she told drivers. “It means there are no points on your driver’s license… it means I do not have leeway with these tickets.”

Three people took the stand to testify under oath that they were not driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged traffic violation. All three of their tickets were dismissed.

Jones warned  that drivers should not lie while giving testimony or else risk committing perjury.

Two men came up for a hearing, at which point the prosecutor presented evidence showing the school zone speed limit was being enforced and readily apparent to drivers.

Neither man presented evidence of their innocence, which led the court to uphold the citations.

Jones said people should read their citations closely before taking the time to request a hearing.

“The citations are very specific about what circumstances they can be dismissed under and what to bring with you to court,” she said.

No-showing results in citations being upheld, with payment still being expected. Failing to pay citations on time can lead to vehicle registration to be suspended.

If citations are dismissed, Jones said drivers should not pay them, even if they are still flagged as being due in Altumint’s payment system.