Speed Cameras Coming to Quincy School Zones
City council approves an agreement to begin installing automated speed enforcement cameras near schools and parks.
TL;DR — What You Need to Know
· Quincy City Council approved an agreement with NovoaGlobal, Inc. to move forward with automated speed enforcement in school zones.
· Council clarified on the record: this is school zones and parks, not a citywide traffic-camera rollout.
· Quincy already adopted the local ordinance authorizing automated traffic safety cameras in October 2025 — this vote was the “implementation step.”
· The vendor agreement spells out a monthly fee per camera “System,” the review process before a notice is mailed, and records/public-records compliance requirements.
· What’s still not publicly nailed down yet: which school zones, how many cameras, and when enforcement begins.
Why This Matters for Quincy
School zones are the places where Quincy’s traffic habits collide with real vulnerability.
In the morning and afternoon rush, the same short stretch of road has buses, student drivers, parents trying to make it to work, and kids crossing streets—sometimes quickly, sometimes unpredictably.
And according to city officials, traffic complaints—especially speeding—remain one of the most common issues residents bring up.
So the city is taking a step toward a tool that doesn’t rely on having an officer physically parked in a school zone every day.
If you’ve ever driven past a Quincy school at pickup time, you’ve probably seen the same thing many parents and teachers notice every day: cars moving faster than they should while kids are trying to cross the street.
It’s one of the most common traffic concerns residents raise with the city, and this week the Quincy City Council took a step aimed directly at that problem. During its latest meeting, the council approved an agreement that allows the city to begin installing automated speed enforcement cameras in certain safety zones, including areas around schools and parks.
School zones are some of the most sensitive stretches of road in Quincy.
“The goal is to slow traffic in areas where kids are present.”
Twice a day they fill with buses, student drivers, parents trying to get to work, and kids crossing streets. It’s a busy mix, and according to city officials, speeding in those areas remains one of the most common complaints they hear from residents.
Now the city is preparing to try a new approach to slowing traffic down.
At this week’s meeting, the Quincy City Council approved a service agreement that allows the city to move forward with installing automated speed enforcement cameras in certain safety zones around the community.
The agreement is with NovoaGlobal, Inc., a company that provides traffic-camera systems used by cities across Washington and the country.
During the discussion, councilmembers clarified that the program is focused specifically on school zones and park areas, not general traffic enforcement across the city.
The goal is simple: encourage drivers to slow down where children are most likely to be present.
A step that follows last year’s ordinance
This week’s vote didn’t create the legal authority for traffic cameras in Quincy.
That step happened in October of 2025, when the council adopted an ordinance establishing the city’s automated traffic safety camera program under state law. That ordinance allows camera enforcement in several types of safety areas, including school zones and park zones.
What council approved this week was the operational agreement that allows the city to begin putting the program into place.
How the system works
Automated enforcement systems are designed to detect vehicles traveling above the posted speed limit within designated safety zones.
When a potential violation is captured, the system records the vehicle and license plate information along with the speed data. The images are reviewed through a defined process before a notice of infraction is issued according to Washington State procedures.
Supporters of these programs say they help address a challenge many communities face: it’s difficult for police officers to consistently monitor every school zone every day.
Automated systems allow enforcement to happen even when an officer isn’t physically present.
The agreement outlines the program framework the city will use:
· Camera “Systems” are installed at approved locations (the contract language contemplates a system-based approach and an upper limit, but does not confirm how many Quincy will deploy at launch).
· The system detects speeding vehicles in designated areas and captures evidence tied to the vehicle (not a broad “watching people” program).
· Potential violations are reviewed (The vendor does an initial review, and the city/police review is the enforcement decision point)
· Notices are mailed in a timeframe governed by Washington’s requirements (the agreement acknowledges the state’s short mailing window).
· School-zone enforcement is designed to operate around school-zone conditions (the school-zone “on/off” environment, not just 24/7 ticketing).
Automated enforcement has become more common across Washington, especially around schools, because it provides consistency—something traditional enforcement can struggle with when staffing and schedules change.
Why the city is pursuing it
Earlier in the meeting, while presenting the department’s annual report and goals, Police Chief Ryan Green noted that traffic concerns continue to be one of the most common issues raised by residents.
Speeding in particular shows up repeatedly in community feedback.
“Traffic complaints are the number one concern we hear from the community.”
By focusing enforcement on school zones and areas near parks, city leaders say the program is meant to target locations where children and families are most likely to be walking, biking, or crossing streets.
Across Washington, more cities have been turning to automated enforcement around schools for that reason.
What we still don’t know yet
The council’s vote moves the program forward, but several details will be determined as the system is implemented.
Those include:
Which specific school zones and park areas will receive cameras
How many camera systems will be installed initially
When the cameras will be installed and enforcement will begin
Whether the city will issue warnings before citations begin
Those details are typically finalized during the implementation phase and are expected to be clarified as the program develops.
What it means for drivers
For drivers in Quincy, the biggest change will likely be a stronger reminder to watch their speed in areas where children are present.
State law requires cities to post signage before automated enforcement systems become active, so drivers will receive advance notice before cameras begin issuing citations.
City leaders say the intent of the program is not simply issuing tickets.
The goal is slowing traffic down in the places where it matters most.
“These cameras will focus specifically on school zones.”
The cameras won’t appear overnight, and several details — including where they will be placed and when enforcement will begin — still need to be finalized.
But the direction from city leaders is clear. The goal isn’t simply writing more tickets. It’s encouraging drivers to slow down in the parts of town where children are most likely to be walking, biking, or crossing the street — the places where a few miles per hour can make the biggest difference.