Resident urges Social Circle not to rely on photo-enforcement fines, questions Blue Line contract

During the public-comment portion of the meeting, a resident introduced by the clerk as Mr. Scott Kleinmith questioned Social Circle's automated photo-enforcement program and urged residents to contest citations rather than pay them.

"All you here, you need to tell your relatives. Do not pay these tickets. All you got to do is call the company," Kleinmith said, asserting that the vendor—identified in the meeting as Blue Line Solutions—fronts installation costs and receives about $65 from each citation. The resident said fines are set by law (he cited $75) and that additional administrative and credit-card fees typically raise the total paid by violators.

Kleinmith told the council that when citations arrive by mail he often calls the vendor and the company dismisses the citation when the vehicle owner says someone else was driving. He characterized the program as revenue collection and questioned whether the city or Walton County receives enforcement revenues.

City staff responded during the exchange that state/local requirements govern revenue use and noted that the revenue "by law has to be spent on public safety for the city" or on the school system, according to staff remarks at the meeting. The city did not provide additional contract details during the comment period; councilmembers did not take action on the program at the meeting.

The comment underscores resident concern about automated enforcement, vendor revenue shares and administrative processes for contesting citations; residents seeking specifics on contract terms and revenue distribution will need to follow up with city staff or request records.