The Chatham County Police Department is reminding motorists that school zone speed cameras will re-activate on Thursday, August 1, 2024, which is the first day of the new public school year. The cameras will activate in the St. James school zone on August 8, 2024, and in the St. Andrews school zone on August 15, 2024, which is the first day of classes for the private schools.
Cameras will turn on when the speed limit reduces before the school day, stay on throughout the entire school day (even when the normal speed limit is in effect), and will stay on until the end of the reduced speeds that are enforced at the end of the school day. Arrival and dismissal times vary by school, so motorists should make sure they are always driving the posted speed limit when in a school zone. Cameras do not operate on school holidays or weekends.
Speed limit signs, signs notifying motorists that speed cameras are in use, and signs that flash the speed a motorist is driving as they approach the cameras are at each affected school zone. Drivers can also use the Waze app, which will give them a voice notification when they are about to enter the school zone speed camera area in unincorporated Chatham County.
Drivers will receive a citation in the mail if they drive more than ten miles-per-hour over the speed limit. Fines are $75 for the first violation, plus a $25 processing fee. Any subsequent violations will result in a $125 fine, plus a $25 processing fee. Motorists have the right to appeal the citation, which is a civil matter.
School zone speed cameras are currently located in all school zones in unincorporated Chatham County. Those school zones are Georgetown K-8, Marshpoint Elementary/Coastal Middle School, May Howard Elementary, St. Andrews, Isle of Hope, St. James, Southwest, and Hesse.