Providence Activates School-Zone Speed Cameras; Announces New Rescue Trucks and Crime Center

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Today, August 27, 2025, the City of Providence resumed enforcement of portable speed camera units (PCUs) in all school zones across the city. Operating Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., the cameras will begin issuing violations immediately, aiming to reduce speeding and improve safety for students and families during school hours.

In a separate announcement this morning, Mayor Brett P. Smiley joined U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Representative Gabe Amo, Providence Councilman Pedro Espinal, and Providence Fire Chief Derek Silva to unveil two new rescue trucks for the Providence Fire Department. The vehicles, set to replace Rescue 3 at Branch Avenue Station and Rescue 4 at Washington Street Station, are expected to enhance emergency response capabilities and reduce response times citywide.

Mayor Smiley also officially launched Providence’s first Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), funded by a $1 million federal earmark secured by Senator Reed. Located at Providence Police headquarters, the RTCC will integrate surveillance feeds, license plate readers, 911 dispatch data, and advanced analytics to provide officers with immediate situational awareness and support data-driven policing strategies.

These initiatives underscore the administration’s focus on leveraging technology to bolster public safety, improve emergency services, and protect the most vulnerable members of the community.