State Investigation Finds $41K in Speeding Citations Unlawfully Issued in City of Oliver

The Georgia Department of Public Safety has concluded its investigation of the use of radar in the Oliver Police Department in Screven County, an April 17th letter shows.

The letter, addressed to Oliver Police Chief Pat Kile from Colonel Gary Vowell of the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS), outlines rectification guidelines for the city clerk, requests additional citations, and provides parameters for the city to continue utilizing a speed detection device. 

An investigation was launched earlier this year after a complaint was filed by a motorist issued a citation on Kildare Road. The motorist contended that Kildare Road is not on the Georgia Department of Transportation’s approved list of roadways for the City of Oliver. For municipalities, the state requires that an agency be approved to run radar in the city limits, that the officer utilizing a radar be certified by the state, and that the road on which the radar is used be approved by the state and maintained on a DOT list as well.

The DPS investigation, which was also reviewed by the Office of Professional Standards, found that only State Routes 17 and 24 are on the approved list for the city, sustaining the issue regarding the roadway permit brought up in the complaint.

The following was also noted in the investigation: 

As a result, DPS ordered the City of Oliver and the Oliver Police Department to:

• Notify the city clerk that the 132 citations should never have been issued since the PD was not authorized to operate speed detection devices on Kildare Road. 
• Defer to the Oliver Municipal Court to decide how the court will proceed regarding fines and fees collected as a result of the 132 citations
• Provide DPS with copies of the actual citations as opposed to a summary of the disposition of the citations by May 4, 2020

DPS also terminated the suspension of the Oliver Police Department’s speed detection device permit and reinstated the permit under the condition that over the next 12 months, the Office of Professional Standards will review the police department’s records periodically, including information maintained by the court, to ensure that OPD is not issuing citations on any roads that are not included in the DOT’s list of approved roads.

The state notified Chief Pat Kile, brother of Screven County Sheriff Mike Kile, earlier in 2020 that the City of Oliver’s radar permit was suspended for the duration of the investigation.

“I will not hesitate to order OPD to cease and desist from operating speed detection devices should the Office of Professional Standards bring to my attention any violations of the conditions of OPD’s permits,” the letter reads. “I will give swift and careful consideration to any complaints our office receives regarding your department’s use of speed detection devices.”

The Georgia Municipal Association has Grady K. Reddick listed as both the municipal court judge and the city attorney for Oliver and the police clerk listed as Chief Pat Kile.

The City of Oliver is located in Southeast Georgia’s Screven County. The population is approximately 226.