Section 40-14-18 - Enforcement of speed limit in school zones with recorded images; civil monetary penalty; consequences for failure to pay penalty(a)(1) The speed limit within any school zone as provided for in Code Section 40-14-8 and marked pursuant to Code Section 40-14-6 may be enforced by using photographically recorded images for violations which occurred only on a school day during the time in which instructional classes are taking place and one hour before such classes are scheduled to begin and for one hour after such classes have concluded when such violations are in excess of ten miles per hour over the speed limit.(2) Prior to the placement of a device within a school zone, each school within whose school zone such automated traffic enforcement safety device is to be placed shall first apply for and secure a permit from the Department of Transportation for the use of such automated traffic enforcement safety device. Such permit shall be awarded based upon need. The Department of Transportation shall promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this paragraph.(b) For the purpose of enforcement pursuant to this Code section:(1) The owner of a motor vehicle shall be liable for a civil monetary penalty to the governing body of the law enforcement agency provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection if such vehicle is found, as evidenced by photographically recorded images, to have been operated in disregard or disobedience of the speed limit within any school zone and such disregard or disobedience was not otherwise authorized by law. The amount of such civil monetary penalty shall be $75.00 for a first violation and $125.00 for a second or any subsequent violation, in addition to fees associated with the electronic processing of such civil monetary penalty which shall not exceed $25.00; provided, however, that for a period of 30 days after the first automated traffic enforcement safety device is introduced by a law enforcement agency within a school zone, the driver of a motor vehicle shall not be liable for a civil monetary penalty but shall be issued a civil warning for disregard or disobedience of the speed limit within the school zone;(2) A law enforcement agency authorized to enforce the speed limit of a school zone, or an agent working on behalf of a law enforcement agency or governing body, shall send by first class mail addressed to the owner of the motor vehicle within 30 days after obtaining the name and address of the owner of the motor vehicle but no later than 60 days after the date of the alleged violation: (A) A citation for the alleged violation, which shall include the date and time of the violation, the location of the infraction, the maximum speed at which such motor vehicle was traveling in photographically recorded images, the maximum speed applicable within such school zone, the civil warning or the amount of the civil monetary penalty imposed, and the date by which a civil monetary penalty shall be paid;(B) An image taken from the photographically recorded images showing the vehicle involved in the infraction;(C) A website address where photographically recorded images showing the vehicle involved in the infraction and a duplicate of the information provided for in this paragraph may be viewed;(D) A copy of a certificate sworn to or affirmed by a certified peace officer employed by a law enforcement agency authorized to enforce the speed limit of the school zone and stating that, based upon inspection of photographically recorded images, the owner's motor vehicle was operated in disregard or disobedience of the speed limit in the marked school zone and that such disregard or disobedience was not otherwise authorized by law;(E) A statement of the inference provided by paragraph (4) of this subsection and of the means specified therein by which such inference may be rebutted;(F) Information advising the owner of the motor vehicle of the manner in which liability as alleged in the citation may be contested through an administrative hearing; and(G) A warning that failure to pay the civil monetary penalty or to contest liability in a timely manner as provided for in subsection (d) of this Code section shall waive any right to contest liability;(3) Proof that a motor vehicle was operated in disregard or disobedience of the speed limit of the marked school zone shall be evidenced by photographically recorded images. A copy of a certificate sworn to or affirmed by a certified peace officer employed by a law enforcement agency and stating that, based upon inspection of photographically recorded images, a motor vehicle was operated in disregard or disobedience of the speed limit in the marked school zone and that such disregard or disobedience was not otherwise authorized by law shall be prima-facie evidence of the facts contained therein; and(4) Liability under this Code section shall be determined based upon a preponderance of the evidence. Prima-facie evidence that the vehicle described in the citation issued pursuant to this Code section was operated in violation of the speed limit of the school zone, together with proof that the defendant was, at the time of such violation, the registered owner of the vehicle, shall permit the trier of fact in its discretion to infer that such owner of the vehicle was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation. Such an inference may be rebutted if the owner of the vehicle:(A) Testifies under oath in open court or submits to the court a sworn notarized statement that he or she was not the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation;(B) Presents to the court a certified copy of a police report showing that the vehicle had been reported to the police as stolen prior to the time of the alleged violation.(c) A violation for which a civil warning or a civil monetary penalty is imposed pursuant to this Code section shall not be considered a moving traffic violation for the purpose of points assessment under Code Section 40-5-57. Such violation shall be deemed noncriminal, and imposition of a civil warning or civil monetary penalty pursuant to this Code section shall not be deemed a conviction and shall not be made a part of the operating record of the person upon whom such liability is imposed, nor shall it be used for any insurance purposes in the provision of motor vehicle insurance coverage.(d) If a person issued and mailed a citation pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section fails to pay the civil monetary penalty for the violation or has not filed a police report or notarized statement pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of this Code section in no less than 30 nor more than 60 days after such mailing as determined and noticed by the law enforcement agency, the agent or law enforcement agency shall send to such person by first class mail a second notice of any unpaid civil monetary penalty, except in cases where there is an adjudication that no violation occurred or there is otherwise a lawful determination that no civil monetary penalty shall be imposed. The second notice shall include all information required in paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of this Code section and shall include a new date of return which shall be no less than 30 days after such mailing as determined and noticed by the law enforcement agency. If such person notified by second notice again fails to pay the civil monetary penalty or file a police report or notarized statement pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of this Code section by the new date of return, such person shall have waived the right to contest the violation and shall be liable for the civil monetary penalty provided for under this Code section, except in cases where there is an adjudication that no violation occurred or there is otherwise a lawful determination that no civil monetary penalty shall be imposed.(e) Notices mailed by first class mail pursuant to this Code section shall be adequate notification of the fees and penalties imposed by this Code section. No other notice shall be required for the purposes of this Code section.(f) Any court having jurisdiction over violations of subsection (a) of this Code section shall have jurisdiction over cases arising under this subsection and shall be authorized to impose the civil monetary penalty provided by this subsection. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the provisions of law governing jurisdiction, procedure, defenses, adjudication, appeal, and payment and distribution of penalties otherwise applicable to violations of subsection (a) of this Code section shall apply to enforcement under this Code section except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section; provided, however, that any appeal from superior or state court shall be by application in the same manner as that provided by Code Section 5-6-35.(g) If a violation has not been contested and the assessed penalty has not been paid, the agent or governing body shall send to the person who is the registered owner of the motor vehicle a final notice of any unpaid civil monetary penalty authorized by this Code section, except in cases where there is an adjudication that no violation occurred or there is otherwise a lawful determination that no civil monetary penalty shall be imposed. The notice shall inform the registered owner that the agent or governing body shall send a referral to the Department of Revenue if the assessed penalty is not paid within 30 days after the final notice was mailed and of the consequences for failure to pay such penalty and any late fee.(h) The agent or governing body shall send a referral to the Department of Revenue not sooner than 30 days after the final notice required under subsection (g) was mailed if a violation has not been contested and the assessed penalty has not been paid, except in cases where there is an adjudication that no violation occurred or there is otherwise a lawful determination that no civil monetary penalty shall be imposed. The referral to the Department of Revenue shall include the following: (1) Any information known or available to the agent or governing body concerning the license plate number, year of registration, and the name of the owner of the motor vehicle;(2) The date on which the violation occurred;(3) The citation number issued for the violation; and(4) The date when the notice required under this Code section was mailed.(i) If the Department of Revenue receives a referral under subsection (h) of this Code section, such referral shall be entered into the motor vehicle data base within five days of receipt and the Department of Revenue shall refuse to renew the registration of the motor vehicle unless and until the civil monetary penalty plus any late fee is paid to the agent or governing body.(j) The Department of Revenue shall remove the penalty on a vehicle registration if any person presents the Department of Revenue with adequate proof from the agent or governing body that the penalty and any late fee, if applicable, has been paid.(k) Recorded images made for purposes of this Code section shall not be a public record for purposes of Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50.(l) A civil warning or civil monetary penalty under this Code section on the owner of a motor vehicle shall not be imposed if the operator of the vehicle was arrested or issued a citation and notice to appear by a certified peace officer for the same violation.(m) The money collected and remitted to the governing body pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Code section shall only be used by such governing body to fund local law enforcement or public safety initiatives. This subsection shall not preclude the appropriation of a greater amount than collected and remitted under this subsection.Amended by 2023 Ga. Laws 270,§ 6, eff. 7/1/2023.Added by 2018 Ga. Laws 545,§ 9, eff. 7/1/2018.