by: Kate Wilkinson
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — As students and teachers return to school in Pawtucket Wednesday morning, the city’s new speed cameras are now online.
Starting Wednesday, the cameras posted in the city’s school zones and intersections will turn on – beginning a 30-day warning period.
Once that grace period is over, those caught speeding in a school zone will be hit with a $50 ticket while those who speed through a red light will receive a $95 ticket.
ORIGINAL NOTE: https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/blackstone-valley/pawtucket-speed-cameras-to-launch-on-first-day-of-school/
Today will start a 30-day grace period. After that, drivers caught speeding will pay a $50 ticket. If you run through a red light camera, it’s $95. @wpri12
— Brandon Truitt (@BrandonTruittTV) August 28, 2019
The speed cameras will only be operational on school days from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Red light intersection camera locations:
- Cottage Street and Newport Avenue (Route 1A)
- Prospect and Division Streets
- Main Street and Lonsdale Avenue (Route 122)
School zone speed camera locations:
- Potter Burns Elementary School and Goff Middle School
- Nathanael Greene Elementary School
- Curtis Elementary School
- Varieur Elementary School
- Samuel Slater Middle School and Cunningham Elementary School
- Shea High School
- Jenks Middle School
- Agnes Little Elementary School
- Curvin McCabe Elementary School
Acting Public Safety Director and Police Chief Tina Goncalves said she hopes the implementation of the cameras will minimize speeding in school zones.
“Using this technology will simply be a new tool for the Police Department to improve the safety of the residents,” Goncalves said. “The traffic cameras will allow us to stretch our resources as many communities have done throughout the country.”
The city says the speed cameras will operate on school days from 7am-6pm. They are located in 9 school zones through the city. (Most of them middle and elementary)
— Brandon Truitt (@BrandonTruittTV) August 28, 2019
The speed cameras had a controversial launch in Providence before the State House made changes to how municipalities can operate them.
In 2018, Providence issued more than 63,000 speed camera tickets and collected about $3.2 million in fines.