Third Gwinnett city eyes school zone speed cams

Norcross could be the third city in Gwinnett County to install speed cameras in its school zones.

The city put out an invitation for companies to submit bids to provide Norcross with speed cameras and install them. The notice specifies the city is looking for a com- pany that will install and operate the cameras at no cost and share any revenue that comes from tickets.

One company that has provided that service to two other cities in Gwin- nett is RedSpeed. The Illinois-based camera company started working with Lil- burn and Duluth this summer, installing speed cameras near six elementary and middle schools.

The cameras’ presence were made possible by a 2018 law specifying how they can be used. Drivers going at least 10 miles per hour over the speed limit can be ticketed through the cameras, with fees ranging from $75 to $125. Police departments must verify the footage and authorize a ticket before a ticket is sent to a driver in the mail.

In addition to ticketing, the cameras also help mon- itor for potential threats or suspicious people near schools. The cameras feed live video to police and can detect license plates connected to temporary protective orders, outstanding warrants and Amber Alerts.

The schools the cameras could potentially monitor in Norcross include Beaver Ridge Elementary, Norcross Elementary, Baldwin Ele- mentary and Summerour Middle. Bidders must visit these schools before submitting a final proposal.

The cameras would have to be up and running by Feb. 24, 2020, according to city documents. The city of Nor- cross will accept bids for school zone cameras until Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.