Chattanooga, TN, October 1, 2025
News Summary
In an effort to enhance child safety, Chattanooga is set to install traffic cameras around Orchard Knob Elementary and Brainerd High School. Activation will start with a 30-day warning period on October 6, leading to a $50 fine for speeding drivers. The initiative aims not to generate revenue but to ensure adherence to the 15 mph school zone speed limits, promoting a safer environment for children. The Chattanooga Police Department will oversee the monitoring of these cameras, with funding sourced from citation fees rather than taxpayer dollars.
Chattanooga, TN – Traffic cameras are set to be installed around Orchard Knob Elementary and Brainerd High School in Chattanooga as part of an initiative to enhance child safety in school zones. The cameras will be activated on October 6, 2025, prompting a 30-day warning period where only alerts will be issued to drivers exceeding the speed limit.
Following the warning period, drivers caught speeding in these designated areas will face a civil fine of $50. The Chattanooga Police Department will monitor the traffic cameras, which are strategically placed to ensure adherence to the 15 mph school zone speed limits. The primary objective of this initiative is to protect children, rather than generate revenue from fines.
Chattanooga Police Chief John Chambers indicated that enforcing speed limits via camera systems typically results in reduced speeding incidents in school zones. The implementation of speed cameras is based on comprehensive traffic studies, both internal and from third-party analyses that justified the necessity of these installations in high-risk areas.
The initiative utilized a traffic safety study conducted by Arcadis, which played a significant role in determining locations for photo enforcement. Specifically, cameras have been installed facing eastbound and westbound traffic on East Third Street near Orchard Knob Elementary. In addition, Brainerd High School will have cameras that monitor both northbound and southbound traffic on North Moore Road.
City officials are also exploring the possibility of installing additional speed cameras in other school zones, contingent upon further studies assessing their effectiveness. In tandem with this initiative, Chattanooga has introduced five smart streetlights at mid-block pedestrian crosswalks. These streetlights are equipped with real-time video coverage and connectivity to advanced vehicle communication technology, all aimed at promoting pedestrian safety.
Importantly, the financial aspect of the speed camera program indicates that the installation and ongoing monitoring will incur no direct costs for Chattanooga taxpayers. Instead, the program will be funded through citation fees collected from drivers who fail to adhere to the speed limits.
As Chattanooga continues to prioritize safety around its schools, the effectiveness and functionality of these speed cameras will be closely monitored as part of the city’s overarching strategy to provide a secure environment for children.
Key Features of the Speed Camera Initiative:
- Activation Date: October 6, 2025
- Warning Period: 30 days with alerts for speeding
- Fine for Speeding: $50 civil fine post-warning period
- Monitoring Authority: Chattanooga Police Department
- Speed Limit: 15 mph in school zones
- Locations: East Third Street (Orchard Knob Elementary) and North Moore Road (Brainerd High School)
- Funding Source: Citation fees from the program, not taxpayers
FAQ
When will the speed cameras be activated?
What happens during the warning period?
What is the fine for speeding?
Who will monitor the traffic cameras?
How are the speed cameras funded?
Chart of Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Activation Date | October 6, 2025 |
| Warning Period | 30 days with alerts for speeding |
| Speeding Fine | $50 civil fine post-warning period |
| Monitoring Authority | Chattanooga Police Department |
| Speed Limit | 15 mph in school zones |
| Funding Source | Citation fees from the program |
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Additional Resources
- Times Free Press: Chattanooga to Start Issuing Tickets from Speed Cameras
- Wikipedia: Traffic Regulation
- Local 3 News: City of Chattanooga Installs School Zone Cameras
- Google Search: Chattanooga Traffic Camera Initiative
- News Channel 9: Speed Cameras Now in Effect at 2 Chattanooga Schools
- Google Scholar: Traffic Safety Studies
- Chattanooga Pulse: City Announces Street Safety Improvements
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic Safety
- Times Free Press: Chattanooga Moving Forward with Speed Cameras
- Google News: Chattanooga Speed Cameras
Author: STAFF HERE CHATTANOOGA WRITER
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