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YOUNGSTOWN -- Many of the unmanned speed cameras in city school zones will go dark at 6 p.m. today.
But the cameras will return Aug. 23 for the start of next semester.
Cameras are in use only on school days from the time kids head to class until 6 p.m. They aren't used on weekends, during the summer and on days when class is not in session.
The last day for most schools in Youngstown for this semester is today.
Speed enforcement with the unmanned cameras will stop today at nine schools, according to an email from Lt. Robert Gentile, head of the Youngstown Police Department's traffic and accident investigation unit.
They are: Chaney High, Volney Rogers Elementary, Kirkmere Elementary, East High, Wilson Middle, Chaney Middle, Taft Elementary, Harding Elementary schools as well as the Youngstown Academy of Excellence.
Classes ended Thursday at Rayen Early College Middle and Youngstown Rayen Early College High schools and the cameras were shut off.
Also, the last days for the speed cameras at other schools in the city are Thursday at Summit Academy, May 31 at Horizon Science Academy, June 1 at both Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline high schools, June 2 at St. Christine and Valley Christian schools, June 13 at Stambaugh Charter Academy and July 12 at Potential Development School.
The city started giving speeding citations at schools in phases starting Feb. 21 after a one-month warning period.
Citations are given to those who exceed the speed limit by at least 11 mph in school zones.
The city gave 1,987 civil citations as of March 21, only a month into the first phase of the program. Since then, eight other schools were added.
Gentile couldn't be reached Tuesday to comment on how many more citations have since been given.
Motorists caught going at least 11 mph over the speed limit and up to 14 mph over it face a civil penalty of $100. Those going 15 to 20 mph over the limit face a $125 penalty and those traveling faster than 20 mph over the limit face a $150 penalty. They do not get points on their driving record for the citations.
The city gets 65 percent of the money collected from speed citations with Blue Line Solutions, a Chattanooga, Tenn., company that runs the program, receiving the remaining 35 percent.
Under state law that restricts the use of speed cameras, Youngstown will be able to use its share of the fines for only school safety resources, such as improvements to school zones and crosswalks near those buildings. City officials are still considering specific options for how to spend the revenue.
During the two hours in the morning that kids go to school, and the two hours when they leave, the speed limit in those zones are 20 mph. In between and after school ends, the speed limit is between 25 and 35 mph depending on the location.