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What to know about speeding laws and automatic tickets in Macon school zones

Stories by Macon Telegraph journalists, with AI summarization

Speeding, even slightly over the limit, is illegal across Georgia, as cities such as Macon implement speed cameras, especially in school zones.

1. Is it legal to speed to pass a vehicle in Georgia? The short answer is no. Drivers must adhere to speed limits when overtaking, regardless of the situation.

2. Driving slightly over the speed limit, like 10 mph, is still illegal and at the police's discretionary enforcement. While minor speeding might sometimes be overlooked, exceeding 10 mph can lead to fines.

3. Automatic tickets are now possible in Macon school zones in an effort to enforce speed limits. Drivers can be automatically ticketed for speeding in more than a dozen school zones two hours before and after school hours in most of Macon, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. Drivers can only be cited for driving 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit.

Read more in the stories below:

A speed camera sits off of Vineville Avenue next to Vineville Academy of the Arts on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Macon, Georgia. Bibb County Sheriff David Davis announced on Wednesday that automatic speed zone tickets would begin again in Bibb County in May after they were temporarily halted in March after scrutiny at the state level. By Katie Tucker/The Telegraph

NO. 1: WHEN, WHERE MACON DRIVERS CAN GET AUTOMATIC TICKETS FOR SCHOOL ZONE SPEEDING

See which schools opted into the automatic speeding ticket program. | Published May 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jesse Fraga

Can you drive 10 mph the speed limit to keep up with traffic?

NO. 2: IS IT LEGAL TO DRIVE 10 MPH OVER THE SPEED LIMIT IN GEORGIA? WHAT THE LAW SAYS

Here’s what the law says about speeding, even if you are just trying to keep up with traffic. | Published June 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chelsea Madden

In a May 15, 2025 interview Steilacoom Police Chief Tom Yabe talks about the safety benefits his town and other communities should see from the BEAM Act legislation that he testified in favor of. Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill into law earlier this week that requires intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices for drivers found guilty of going above the speed limit “in a dangerous manner.” Under House Bill 1596, the GPS-based device tracks such drivers’ speed and limits them from accelerating over the posted limit. By Steve Bloom

NO. 3: IS SPEEDING TO PASS A VEHICLE LEGAL IN GEORGIA? WHAT THE LAW SAYS 

Here’s a guide to vehicle-passing laws. | Published July 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chelsea Madden

Drivers can be automatically ticketed for speeding in certain school zones in Macon and Warner Robins during summer 2025. By Katie Tucker/The Telegraph

NO. 4: 5 MORE SCHOOL ZONES IN MACON WILL START USING SPEED CAMERAS. HERE’S WHERE.

Cameras at five additional schools are being used to enforce school zone speed limits in Macon starting this week, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. | Published September 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jeremy Chisenhall

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.