Traffic‑safety vendor pitches automated school‑zone speed cameras to Covington council

Blue Line Solutions, a traffic‑safety company, presented to the Covington City Council on the company’s automated speed enforcement (ASE) program targeted at school zones. Barb Manton, who identified herself as representing Blue Line Solutions, described a process that begins with five‑day observational speed studies, a public education and 30‑day warning period, and then civil‑citation enforcement for drivers exceeding the posted limit by 11 mph or more during school‑zone hours.

Manton said Blue Line’s detection uses “bracket speed detection” (not radar) and that the program is implemented only during school‑zone times. The vendor provides signage, radar‑feedback signs and either solar or AC‑powered camera poles, and prepares the court packages and certification documents for contested citations. Manton said the technology yielded a measured reduction in the proportion of drivers speeding in school zones of about 96–97% in their experience elsewhere after education and enforcement phases.

She described the vendor model as “turnkey” and “zero cost to the municipality,” with cameras and maintenance paid from citation revenue; she added the revenue split between city and schools is mandated by state legislation and that local cooperative‑endeavor agreements would be required. Manton estimated one camera cost at approximately $60,000 and said Blue Line retains responsibility to repair or replace equipment damaged by storms or collisions.

Council members asked technical and operational questions. Councilman Lewis asked how the cameras are mounted and sited; Manton said Blue Line uses either existing poles or proprietary camera poles, supplies all required signage, and positions radar feedback signs before the enforcement point. Another council member (unnamed in the record) said Blue Line’s study results showed some school sites with very high percentages of drivers recorded 11+ mph over the limit — figures council members described as surprising — and suggested the program could complement Covington’s existing “Slow Your Roll” enforcement work. Members also asked about revenue dynamics; Manton acknowledged fines would decline as behavior changed and said contracts generally span multiple years because cameras and software have upfront costs.

Manton listed Covington High, Covington Elementary and Lyon Elementary among the school sites studied and said the vendor can work with the City and Covington Police Department so the PD reviews every camera capture before a civil citation issues.

Why it matters: The vendor described a staged, notification‑first enforcement model and a revenue model tied to citation collection; council members must weigh privacy, equity, enforcement and budgeting questions and would need to consider state law constraints and local cooperative agreements with schools before adopting ASE.

What’s next: Staff and council members asked for more data; no ordinance or motion to begin an ASE program was introduced at this meeting.