Where faulty turn signals in school zones caused unfair tickets, clearer traffic signs could have cleared up the confusion

ATLANTA – For five months, a pair of school zone flashers near Drew Charter School cut off 15 minutes in the early morning and afternoon hours, misleading drivers into receiving speeding tickets from automated cameras who issued tickets as if the lights were still flashing.

But even with the faulty turn signals, the message to drivers could have been clearer under the original plans submitted to the state for automated camera authorization. The FOX 5 I-Team has learned the city and camera contractor changed plans without state approval, raising questions about whether cameras in the Memorial Drive school zone should be operating.

FOX 5 broke the story last month of nearly 4,500 erroneous speeding tickets issued by the two cameras, with Atlanta Public Schools saying anyone unfairly cited who has paid their fine can get a refund.

The I-Team also obtained the permit application packet submitted by APS to the Georgia Department of Transportation, which under state law must sign permits for school zone cameras.

Plans called for timetable signs when the speed limit changes from 35 to 25 miles per hour to be added to the same “Flashing Speed ​​Limit 25” signs with the amber lights flashing, facing both westbound and westbound. east direction. traffic.

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In the Drew Charter school zone, these 25 mph times are 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. The FOX 5 I-Team found out, until the city fixed the issue on May 2, the flashing beacons in the school zone were turned off. departure around 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.

Drivers passing by, during these 15-minute windows of mistakenly turned off signals, might have gotten the idea that something was wrong according to the original signal plans.

Instead, the sign for eastbound traffic is posted in a location after traffic has already passed the automated camera that records speeds and photographs license plates.

David Malkin, cited for reaching 37 in a 25 zone at 4:59 p.m. while dropping his son off at the East Lake YMCA, said even if he had read that sign, it would have done no good.

“At that point, I would have already gone off the radar and I would have already gotten the ticket,” said Malkin, who lives in Decatur.

By law, a driver must be at least 11 miles over the speed limit to be cited by an automated camera, so Malkin should not have been cited for going 37 in a 35. He requested a refund.

There are no posted time signs for eastbound traffic.

James Murphy, who lives nearby, spoke about it during a hearing in Atlanta Municipal Court last month, just before Chief Judge Christopher T. Portis threw out his ticket.

“There are literally no signs eastbound on Memorial Drive that say anything other than 25 miles per hour when flashing,” Murphy said. “So it comes down to giving a lot of tickets to people who essentially didn’t do anything when they were told they weren’t supposed to do.”

Inconsistent signage around automated school zone cameras is a recurring complaint statewide, and a proposal that died in the state Legislature this year would have required uniform signage.

GDOT reiterated to APS the requirement to change signs when a traffic engineer signs the permit, adding a handwritten note: “Camera must be on After panel upgrades are complete.

The permit application required the signage work to be done by camera contractor Verra Mobility and the Atlanta Department of Transportation.

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An ATLDOT spokesperson said in written responses to questions that they initially posted the signs with the schedules, but decided they were too confusing.

“These signs were installed to cover the ‘WHEN FLASHING’ text printed on the original flashing beacon signs, per the original design plan,” the written statement said. “However, after discussions with ATLDOT and Verra Mobility, the enforcement time signs were subsequently removed.”

The reason? It is best for drivers to look for flashing lights.

“Signs indicating school times, especially when there are multiple school times for different days, would be more difficult for drivers to follow than simply knowing whether the beacon is flashing or not,” the spokesperson said. “This can also be a point of confusion during the summer when school is out. Having enforcement times on flashing beacons can introduce conflicting messages if the beacon malfunctions or turns off during a zone hour school indicated.”

The spokesperson said the city has not consulted with GDOT about the changed plans, but said the current sign configuration complies with GDOT guidelines. The release said the city did not install a sign indicating a 25 mph timetable for eastbound traffic because there is no sidewalk on that side for pedestrians.

A GDOT spokeswoman told the I-Team in writing: “As with other permits issued by the department, the permit holder (agrees) to follow the rules and regulations established by the department.

“If the permit holder fails to meet the conditions of the permit, the permit will be considered invalid,” GDOT said.

If that turns out to be the case, state Rep. Becky Evans, D-Atlanta, said the city should consider refunding anyone who received a ticket in error.

“Most importantly, I just want them to make sure they address these issues because the community itself is happy that the cameras are working and slowing people down,” said Evans, who represents the area in the Georgia House. “It’s very important that Atlanta succeeds.”

Citation data obtained by the FOX 5 I-Team shows more than 11,000 citations written by Memorial Drive cameras between September and mid-April, with Verra Mobility taking a $25 cut of each, per its contract.

Atlanta Public Schools also reportedly communicates only in writing for this story, declining requests from the I-Team to speak with APS/Board of Education officials.

“We will continue to work with all of our partners to monitor and improve the program, which has resulted in visible and notable improvement in driver behavior across all of our school zones,” the APS statement said. “In October 2023, there were nearly 14,000 speeding incidents. By the end of the school year in May 2024, that number dropped significantly to fewer than 5,500, a drop of nearly 60% of speeding in the first year This is proof that the program is working and changing driver behavior to help increase the safety of our school zones.

Verra Mobility referred questions to the school system.

For more information on refunds, APS has provided an email address: [email protected].