The Martinsville Police Department is now using cameras and license plate readers to monitor and enforce speed violations in school zones.
In October 2023, Martinsville City Council passed an ordinance allowing photo speed monitoring devices to be installed in school crossing zones throughout the city to increase student safety.
As a result, the Martinsville Police Department entered a contract to install cameras that use laser technology and license plate readers at all elementary, middle, and high schools in the city to issue fines for speeding violations.
During the period that school zone speed limits are in place, the cameras will monitor the speeds of all drivers and report cars that are traveling at an excessive speed to the Martinsville Police Department. The department will then access the information and issue a $100 fine to the registered owner of the car.
A 2023 study revealed a safety concern with a high amount of speeding through school zones, and Martinsville Police Chief Rob Fincher hopes using this technology will result in fewer violations.
oal of the using the camera enforcement is to increase student safety,” said Chief Fincher. “As we researched the effectiveness of this method, other localities saw up to a 90% reduction in violations, and we hope to see similar results here.”
Chief Fincher notes that a few warning signs and a speed feedback sign are posted ahead of the camera to notify drivers as they enter the school zone.
The fine does not impact the driving records, however, if a registered owner who receives a fine would like to dispute it or believes they were not the driver, they may seek to have it disputed in court.
For more information, contact the Martinsville Police Department at 276-638-8751.
