Innocent drivers in Atlanta were improperly issued $75 tickets for speeding through a school zone at times when flashing yellow lights, used to indicate a revised speed limit during school hours, were not active. FOX affiliate WAGA-TV reported that once school is dismissed and the orange lights cease flashing, the speed limit increases to 35 miles per hour from the revised limit of 25 miles per hour. This led to numerous incorrect fines being issued.

According to follow-up reporting from The Sun, Atlanta Public Schools acknowledged that cameras were mistakenly issuing tickets to drivers after hours when the orange lights were off. As a result, nearly 4,500 drivers who received these citations since November 2023 will be refunded. This issue has led to the issuance of hundreds of thousands of dollars in incorrect fines over six months.

When questioned, officials did not provide a direct response as to why the cameras weren’t deactivated after hours. Ivan DeQuesada, one of the affected drivers, recounted being fined $75 for driving 39 mph in a 25 mph zone at nearly 5 p.m. on a Friday, despite the inactive flashing lights. “I thought about what was happening that day. I remembered what I was doing, and then I thought, ‘Man, I don’t remember that school zone light being on,” DeQuesada said.

DeQuesada discovered that several neighbors received similar unexpected tickets. James Murphy, another resident, called it a potential money grab, saying, “They shouldn’t be raking in money from dozens of cars driving down the road when there’s no light blinking. It really just seems like a way to try to bring in money, rather than actually increase safety.”

A spokesperson for Atlanta Public Schools confirmed the cameras were incorrectly issuing citations and stated that affected drivers would receive refunds. Despite this, some residents and lawmakers are looking to ban the cameras altogether. Retiring State Representative Clay Pirkle had previously tried to ban them without success.