Chapter 672-20 PERMITTING AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SAFETY DEVICES IN SCHOOL ZONES
| (1) |
School zones are unique to Georgia's
roadway system due to the reoccurring reduction of the designated speed limit.
This reduction in vehicular speed provides two primary functions:
| (1) |
it affords the driver with more time to
recognize and react to pedestrians in the travel way; and |
| (2) |
it offers schoolchildren additional time
to anticipate vehicular movement in order to safely avoid crashes. The goal of
the placement and use of Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Devices is to
increase safety throughout Georgia's School Zones. |
|
| (2) |
Prior to the placement of an Automated
Traffic Enforcement Safety Device within a School Zone, each school or if a
public school the school system housing the 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 for the use of such Automated
Traffic Enforcement Safety Device. |
| (3) |
These rules establish the process for
obtaining, reviewing or cancelling a permit for an Automated Traffic
Enforcement Safety Device and how need for such a permit shall be determined by
the Department. |
The following words when used in Chapter 672-20 shall have the
following meaning unless the context thereof indicates another meaning:
| (a) |
"AASHTO Roadside Design Guide" means the
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Roadside
Design Guide, current edition. |
| (b) |
"Applicant" means any school or if a public school the school system housing
the school that requests a permit for the placement and use of an Automated
Traffic Enforcement Safety Device pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 40-14-18. |
| (c) |
"Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety
Device" means a speed detection device that:
| (A) |
Is capable of producing photographically
recorded still or video images, or both, of the rear of a motor vehicle or of
the rear of a motor vehicle being towed by another vehicle, including an image
of such vehicle's rear license plate; |
| (B) |
Is capable of monitoring the speed of a
vehicle as photographically recorded pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this
paragraph; and |
| (C) |
Indicates on
each photographically recorded still or video image produced the date, time,
location, and speed of a photographically recorded vehicle traveling at a speed
above the posted speed limit within a marked school zone. |
|
| (d) |
"Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety
Device Permit Form" is a Department form which may change from time to time, is
available on the Department's website and is to be used to apply for a permit
for an Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device. |
| (e) |
"Clear Zone" means the unobstructed,
traversable area provided beyond the edge of the through traveled way for the
recovery of errant vehicles. The Clear Zone includes shoulders, bike lanes, and
auxiliary lanes, except those auxiliary lanes that function like through
lanes. |
| (f) |
"Department" means the
Georgia Department of Transportation. |
| (g) |
"List of Roads" means a list of the
roadways, segment lengths, and speed limits found within the jurisdiction of a
local municipality or entity in which law enforcement is permitted to use speed
detection devices. |
| (h) |
"Master
State Order" means a county specific document approved by the Commissioners of
both the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation that
lists all state routes and their designated speed limits and all school zones
located on state routes within a specific county. |
| (i) |
"MUTCD" means the Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices, current edition. |
| (j) |
"Off System" means a route that is not
owned or maintained by the Department but by a local government. |
| (k) |
"On System" means a route that is owned
and maintained by the Department (typically denoted by "GA" prior to the
designated route number). |
| (l) |
"Recorded images" means still or video images recorded by an Automated Traffic
Enforcement Safety Device. |
| (m) |
"School Zone" means the area within 1,000 feet of the boundary of any public or
private elementary or secondary school. |
| (1) |
The Applicant must complete the Automated
Traffic Enforcement Safety Device Permit Form and submit it to the Department.
The Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device Permit Form shall include
sufficient information and documentation for the Department to determine the
need for such permit. Such Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device Permit
Form shall include at a minimum:
| (a) |
Location
of the Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device; |
| (b) |
Specific Model number or identification
information of the Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device; |
| (c) |
Traffic data indicating the number and
speed of vehicles traveling in the area of the proposed Automated Traffic
Enforcement Safety Device; |
| (d) |
List
of all schools within the subject School Zone; |
| (e) |
Proof that the Applicant has obtained all
required permissions, permits and property rights necessary for the
installation, maintenance and operation of the desired Automated Traffic
Enforcement Safety Device which may include but are not limited to other
permits from the Department; |
| (f) |
Any additional information deemed necessary by the Department to determine need
for the Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device at the specific
location; |
| (g) |
Written
correspondence from the appropriate local law enforcement agency approving the
Applicant's request for an Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device;
and |
| (h) |
For an application for an
Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device located Off System, a letter
certifying from the chief elected official that the Applicant will comply with
all applicable Georgia laws, including but not limited to O.C.G.A. §§ 40-14-18,
40-14-1.1
and
40-6-183. |
|
| (2) |
The Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety
Device Permit Form for must be signed by the school system's superintendent or
designee when submitted by a public school system. |
| (3) |
The Department is authorized to establish
additional guidelines to assist it in determining need for an Automated Traffic
Enforcement Safety Device. |
| (4) |
The
Department may request additional information or documentation to supplement
the Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device Permit Form. |
| (5) |
The Applicant must comply with any
Department guidelines regarding the Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device
Permit. |
| (1) |
The Department
will review and either approve or deny a completed application for an Automated
Traffic Enforcement Safety Device Permit. |
| (2) |
The decision of whether to approve or
deny an application for an Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device Permit
will be at the discretion of the State Traffic Engineer. |
| (3) |
An Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety
Device Permit Form for a device located On System will only be considered for
those areas where a School Zone is already named on the Master State Order or
List of Roads. |
| (4) |
Placement of an
Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device may be required to be outside the
Clear Zone as specified by the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide as determined by
the Department. |
In addition to those requirements set forth in the Automated
Traffic Enforcement Safety Device Permit, the permit holder:
| (a) |
Must maintain and make available to the
Department upon the request all calibration tests and performance logs as
required in O.C.G.A. § 40-14-5
for a period of three (3) years. |
| (b) |
Is responsible for the operation of the
Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device as long as the device is in place
and is responsible for maintaining the device in good working order during the
term of the Permit. All maintenance work on said device within the Department's
right-of-way must be coordinated with the Department's appropriate District
Traffic Engineer. All Contractor work times shall be in accordance with the
appropriate District Traffic Engineer's directive. |
| (c) |
The Applicant must ensure the maintenance
of all School Zone Signage as defined in the MUTCD, including but not limited
to School Zone Flashers. |
| (d) |
The
permitted Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device shall otherwise be
operated in accordance with all other laws and regulations. |
| (1) |
The Department may require a change in
the location of the proposed Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device either
temporarily or permanently in response to active or proposed construction
projects, including but not limited to Department projects, within the area,
all costs of which will be borne by the permittee. |
| (2) |
The Department may review at any time a
Permit for an Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device and require the
permittee to submit information and documentation that shows proper operation
and maintenance of the Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device. |
| (3) |
The Department reserves the right to
cancel any Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device Permit for the following
reasons:
| (a) |
The subject school
relocates; |
| (b) |
The subject School
Zone is changed or removed; |
| (c) |
The
Georgia Department of Public Safety revokes the local government's permit to
use speed detection devices; |
| (d) |
The permit issued by the Georgia Department of Public Safety for the use of
speed detection devices expires and is not renewed; |
| (e) |
The permittee does not maintain an
Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device in proper working order in
accordance with Rule 672-20.05(b); |
| (f) |
The permittee fails to meet or follow any
requirements of the Permit or any other Department rules, policies or
guidelines; or |
| (g) |
Any other reason
that the Department determines requires cancellation of the Permit. |
|
