Springfield will stop issuing school-zone speeding tickets through automated cameras after city leaders voted to end the program, citing changes in state law and a proposed contract amendment that would have either expanded enforcement hours or increased the vendor's share of ticket revenue.
The city of Springfield voted unanimously Aug. 11 to terminate its contract with Blue Line Solutions, a company that operates a speed detection camera in the Springfield Elementary School Zone. The agreement is set to terminate Sept. 11.
"Under Blue Line's proposed amendment, the cameras would be expected to operate for eight hours on school days," said Springfield City Manager Lauren Eargle, which would be longer than the cameras are currently operated. "If
the city chose to continue its more limited enforcement schedule, Blue Line's fee would increase from 35% to 65% of paid notices of liability (tickets). After consideration, council determined that continuing the contract was not in the best interest of the city."
House Bill 651, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp May 12 and effective July 1, added new provisions governing school-zone speed cameras, including giving local governments the option to continue or discontinue their use.
While city officials focused on the changing legal and financial landscape, Blue Line emphasized the program's impact on driver behavior.
“The results in Springfield reflect that safety-first approach. Speeding violations across the two Springfield Elementary locations have declined by 98.1% overall, including reductions of 99.4% on Old Dixie Highway and 96.1% on State Route 119,” said Kelly Abercrombie, chief strategy officer for Blue Line Solutions. “Most notably, approximately 97% of the reduction occurred during the public information and education phase, before enforcement began, demonstrating that the program’s presence alone produced an immediate change in driver behavior.”
For Springfield, changes in state law meant the city could evaluate whether the cameras should remain in the school zone. Eargle said the city of Springfield has never operated the camera for eight hours per day, and that the camera currently only operates during drop-off and pickup periods.
"Blue Line Solutions began receiving revenue from the Springfield program in January 2023, after making an initial investment of approximately $75,000 for site construction, equipment, installation, and other implementation costs," said Abercrombie. "Since January 2023, BLS has received approximately $143,000 in gross revenue from the program. Accordingly, gross receipts have exceeded BLS’s initial investment by approximately $68,000. That amount should not be characterized as profit because it does not account for BLS’s continuing costs associated with operating, maintaining, processing, administering, and supporting the program."
Eargle said residents have raised concerns over the number of tickets being issued while driving through the speed zone. In 2025, the city of Springfield collected $76,923 for their share of revenue collected from speed zone cameras. Approximately 1,298 citations were issued that year.
The city implemented the tool as an additional security measure but city council and Springfield Police Chief James Woodcock agreed that ending the agreement would be best for the public. Eargle said the decision to remove the cameras had nothing to do with the recent misuse of flock cameras across the country as they have different purposes but that one of the reasons was due to complaints from residents regarding tickets received from BLS.
Safety measures will continue to be enforced by the Springfield Police Department, officials said.
"The City of Springfield appreciates the community’s continued cooperation in keeping school zones safe and reminds all motorists that posted school-zone speed limits remain in effect and will continue to be enforced following the discontinuation of automated camera enforcement," said Eargle. "The Springfield Police Department will continue its existing presence and traditional traffic control and enforcement in and around the Springfield Elementary School zone. Traditional law enforcement was never reduced when cameras were implemented."
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Why Springfield is ditching school zone cameras? | Exclusive
