Michigan House Bills Introduced to Curb Speeding in School Zones

Photo byWWMT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – In an effort to enhance safety in school zones, two new house bills have been introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives. House Bills 4921 and 5726 propose the use of automated systems, including cameras, to monitor and reduce speeding in these critical areas.

The proposed system will focus on capturing license plates rather than driver faces, aiming to protect privacy while ensuring accountability. Representative John Fitzgerald (D) of Wyoming, who sponsored the bills, cited significant speeding concerns in Kent County as a motivating factor. "If there's a school zone where the speed limit goes from 45 to 25, we need to make sure that we're changing and inspiring driver habits to account for this, and to make sure that stopping and adjusting speeds for pedestrians is top of mind," Fitzgerald told News Channel 3.

In Kalamazoo, speeding in school zones remains a pressing issue. Michael Claiborn, a local crossing guard who was injured on the job near Milwood Elementary School, voiced his frustration with drivers ignoring stop signs. "Every time I put the sign up, they don't seem to want to stop," he said. "I can do a count, and the count doesn't seem to help anyway. I would still try and stop them, and then I would turn back and step back and get out of the way as quick as I can."

Kalamazoo Township Police Chief Bryan Ergang highlighted the compounded risks posed by distracted driving. "The problem we see is people become more distracted with things like cell phones and higher speeds on our roadways," Ergang stated. "It puts those students into higher danger."

Bill 4921 mandates signage at the start of school zones to notify drivers of the monitoring. Additionally, local authorities are required to conduct public awareness campaigns 30 days prior to implementation. During an initial 30-day grace period, violators will receive warnings instead of citations. After this period, drivers exceeding the speed limit by at least 10 miles per hour will face fines of up to $150.

Fitzgerald emphasized the bills' focus on accountability and safety. "This is not going to be frivolously enforced," he assured. "This really has good guard rails around who we are looking to punish for their habits and hold accountable when putting our children in peril."

Before a vote, further discussions will address the implementation specifics and funding for the proposed camera systems.