Soddy‑Daisy to Reactivate School‑Zone Cameras; Police Say Plate Readers Aided Crime Solves
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Summary
Police Chief Petty told the Commission that school‑zone cameras will be reactivated when classes resume; tickets are issued only for speeds 11 mph over the limit. The city plans to use $10,000 in ticket revenue to replace school‑zone lights; any funding return to schools would need board approval.
Police Chief Petty told the Soddy‑Daisy Board of Commissioners on Aug. 1 that school‑zone cameras will be reactivated when classes resume this week and that the cameras will be used for enforcement. Petty said the camera lights will flash starting Monday and the cameras will be active Wednesday, with tickets issued only when drivers exceed the posted speed by 11 miles per hour.
The announcement matters because the city is preparing to reestablish automated enforcement timed to the school schedule. Petty said cameras will operate for two hours on Sequoyah Road and will flash five minutes before activation; officers will verify the lights and notify dispatch if they are functioning.
Petty also reported that the city’s license plate readers are active and have been used to solve serious crimes. "They've already been used to solve serious crimes," he said, describing the systems as an investigative tool the department will continue to evaluate in future meetings.
City Manager Burt Johnson said the city plans to allocate $10,000 from ticket revenue to replace some school‑zone lights. He said city staff are discussing options for how that money might be returned to local schools but any program would require formal Board approval. "That would require Board approval before it could be done," Johnson said.
Commissioner Keith noted the digital speed detection sign at the north end is not working; Petty said he believes the sign is tied to the school cameras and will operate when the school zone is activated, adding that Blue Line (the vendor) is responsible for the lights.
The meeting record shows the Board acknowledged these operational details and discussed next steps for funding and equipment checks; no formal change to enforcement policy or funding disbursement was voted on at the meeting.
The Commission will consider any proposal to return ticket revenue to schools at a future meeting, and staff will continue coordinating equipment checks with vendors and school schedules.