EAST PROVIDENCE — The 30-warning period following the installation of speed control cameras near schools across the city began this week, the administration of Mayor Bob DaSilva and the East Providence Police Department announced in a notice Tuesday, Nov. 2.

The cameras, approved for use earlier this calendar by the City Council, conform with Rhode Island General Law, which allows for the cameras to be used in school zones, during school hours and academic term.

Nine initial cameras have been installed with appropriate signage to inform motorists that the program is now live. The aim of the program, according to the statement, is to “enhance school safety and make traffic enforcement operations citywide more efficient.”

 “We want our residents and area motorists to know the program will be live and the warning period will begin this week,” said EPPD Chief Chris Francesconi. “Our goal is simple: to get motorists to drive safely and not speed in school zones. Changing driver behavior for the benefit of our residents and their kids is the purpose of this program; not issuing tickets.”

As part of the program, Sensys Gatso, the contractor, has covered the costs associated with the equipment, camera installation and signage. The police department will retain all powers and responsibilities and will make the final determination if a violation occurred. Motorists will also retain all rights of appeal through the judicial process. 

Sensys Gatso’s role is to gather data and send it to the East Providence Police Department for review. The cameras are all pole mounted. The program will begin issuing actual tickets in January when school returns after the holiday break.

Initial school safety camera locations are as follows: 
• eastbound Forbes Street @ Riverside Middle School 
• westbound Forbes Street @ Riverside Middle School 
• northbound Pawtucket Avenue @ Kent Heights School 
• southbound Pawtucket Avenue @ Kent Heights School 
• northbound Pawtucket Avenue @ St. Margaret’s School 
• southbound Pawtucket Avenue @ St. Margaret’s School 
• northbound Pawtucket Avenue @ East Providence High School 
• southbound Pawtucket Avenue @ East Providence High School 
• northbound Pawtucket Avenue @ St. Mary’s Bay View Academy 

During the 30-day warning period violators will receive a notice that if the program had been outside of the warning period, they would have received a ticket totaling $50 for exceeding the speed limit in a school zone.

The school safety camera program will be operational during school days from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Currently, signs at the East Providence High School and St. Mary Academy-Bay View have different School Zone Hours (7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m at the EPHS) (7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Mary Academy/ Bay View). These signs will be changed to reflect the same hours at all schools 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, please visit https://www.eastprovidenceri.gov/PublicSafetyCams