08/12/2026
Pulaski County Sheriff's Office will be launching an automated photo speed enforcement program at Critzer Elementary School, Pulaski County High School, Pulaski County Middle School, and Riverlawn Elementary School.
During a 5-day speed study conducted in 2024, there were 7,454 speeding violations of 11MPH or greater through our school zones. That was 25% of the total traffic in our school zones, prompting safety actions to address the elevated dangers.
Reducing excessive speed is one of the most effective ways to reduce crash severity and improve roadway safety. Our goal has been and remains the safety of our community.
Automated Speed Enforcement serves as a force multiplier by complementing traditional law enforcement. It allows deputies to focus on emergency response and other critical public safety responsibilities while helping reduce excessive speeding throughout our school zones, keeping students, faculty, staff, administrators, parents, cyclists, pedestrians, and other drivers safe on our roads.
We know that speed kills; statistics show a child struck by a vehicle traveling 40 MPH, only has a one in 10 chance of survival, but if you slow that down to 20 MPH, that same child has a much-improved survival rate of nine in 10. Speeding is also a primary contributing factor in motor vehicle crashes resulting in personal injury and deaths.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 64% of child pedestrians killed in traffic crashes occurred during the weekday (6 a.m. Monday to 6:00 p.m. Friday) (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts). Our goal is to increase safety for students, parents, teachers, and the motoring public traveling through our school zones.
This program combines robust public information & education, along with a 30-day warning period to encourage people to slow down and change their driving behavior.
School zones are clearly marked with posted speed limit signs. Zones will also have flashing lights and additional road signs to capture a vehicle's speed and give advance warning to the driver of the upcoming school zone. Cameras will be used to identify any non-compliant motorists traveling at 10+ MPH over the posted speed limit.
August 13" will start the initial warning period. During this warning period, violators will receive a warning in the mail marked in red advising of the violation that occurred on such date and time. Warning citations serve as a reminder to slow down in places where our children learn and play and carry no monetary implications.
Live enforcement begins after the 30-day warning period, on September 13th. At this time, motorists that exceed the posted school zone speed limit at 11 MPH or greater, will receive a citation in the mail. These citations are civil in nature, and carry a $100.00 fine, but do not come with points against your license, or insurance penalties.
Photo speed cameras will be active and enforced on days that school is in session, children are present and when the school zone beacons are flashing. If you are traveling through Critzer Elementary School, Pulaski County High School, Pulaski County Middle School, and Riverlawn Elementary School zones during school hours, these cameras will be active.
We are committed to changing driver behavior, slowing speeders down, and protecting our children. Please drive safely in our school zones and in our community. Working together, we can achieve our vision of ZERO. "Zero crashes, Zero injuries, and Zero fatalities."
