Ever gotten a school-zone speeding ticket and wondered how many sets of eyes vetted your ‘infraction’ before it ended up in your mailbox? You might be shocked by the answer—and the process behind it. Let’s break down exactly what happens when you speed through a Syracuse school zone, from camera to citation.
In just one month since Syracuse’s school speed zone cameras went live, nearly 60,000 warnings have been sent to speeding drivers. But here’s the question no one asks: Is it really just a camera snap and an automatic fine? Spoiler: Nope. Before a ticket lands in your mail, three distinct humans have already reviewed the evidence—each step designed to balance fairness and safety.
First, the footage goes to two employees of Jenoptik, the company that operates the cameras. Their job? Scrutinize the video and photos to confirm a violation. Think of it like a double-check: one person flags a potential speed, the other verifies it—no room for accidental errors here. Once both agree it’s a violation, the case moves to the Syracuse Police Department (SPD) for a third, final review.
"It’s not just a quick glance," explains First Deputy Chief Richard Schoff. "Reviewers dive into work rules: they watch the timestamped videos, study high-quality license plate photos, and cross-check every detail to make sure the car in the footage matches the plate on the ticket. If everything lines up—speed, time, plate—we approve it and send it to the violations bureau."
And don’t sleep on that third review: by the time tickets reach SPD, the rejection rate is tiny. These aren’t shaky, unclear citations—they’re "solid," Schoff emphasizes. Why? Because the first two checks already weed out most doubts.
So who’s doing all this reviewing? Right now, 25 trained staff—mostly Community Service Officers (CSOs), who handle routine tasks so patrol officers can focus on emergencies or investigations—are on the job. Once the initial flood of tickets eases, SPD plans to create a dedicated team. Makes sense: consistency is key when someone’s wallet is on the line.
But here’s where the "why" gets interesting: Schoff calls the cameras "force multipliers"—and for good reason. Syracuse PD is short on officers. Stationing a patrol car in a school zone might slow speeds for a day, but "we can’t be there every day, all day," Schoff says. "Cameras are there 24/7. The goal isn’t to punish—it’s to keep kids safe."
Still, controversy looms. Some drivers might grumble: "Three human reviews? Isn’t that overkill?" Others might wonder: "If the cameras are so accurate, why bother with human checks at all?" And then there’s the fine hike: starting November 2, warnings end—speeding drivers will get a $50 ticket instead. "We wanted to give people time to adjust," Schoff notes, "but safety can’t wait."
Oh, and yes—you can contest a ticket. But Schoff has a blunt warning: "With the video and photos we have, you better be 100% sure it’s wrong before you fight it. These cases are built to stand up."
So, let’s wrap this up: Your school-zone ticket isn’t just a camera’s call—it’s three humans, two companies, and a city’s commitment to safety, all working to make sure you (and the kids) slow down. But here’s the big question for you: Do you think three reviews strike the right balance between fairness and efficiency? Or do you think the system could use tweaks? Drop a comment below—we’d love to hear your take.
