Again this school year, the City will deploy four separate video systems that are portable and able to be moved each day at the direction of the Akron Police Department Traffic Bureau. Sites are chosen by the police department based upon safety concerns of the police throughout the city. Cameras will be utilized only during the time that yellow school-zone lights are flashing signifying the 20 M.P.H. restricted speed limit is in effect.

Vehicles exceeding the speed limit trigger the cameras to take a photograph and register the speed of the offending vehicle. The owner is traced, and the city issues a Notice of Civil Violation. Fines remain the same, $100. The offense is a civil infraction, not a criminal traffic citation. Vehicle owners who receive a civil violation receive no points on their driving record, and the infraction is not reported to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles or their auto insurer.

The Notice of Civil Violation contains answers to frequently asked questions, a customer service telephone number, a payment form, a leased or stolen vehicle affidavit, and a request for administrative hearing form.

Again this year, in addition to speed cameras, the Akron Police Department will also be employing electronic warnings signs that flash a vehicle’s speed as it approaches. These are used as tools to help drivers voluntarily monitor their own speed. Drivers should be aware that APD radar cars or a speed camera are likely to follow up with a visit to those sites in subsequent days or weeks.