Speed detection cameras now active in some Tampa Bay-area school districts

TAMPA, Fla. — School is back in session all across the Tampa Bay area, and that means speed detection cameras are active in numerous school zones across the region.

The School Speed Zone Camera Program, which was authorized under Florida House Bill 657, allows counties or municipalities to enforce speed limits in school zones by using a speed detection system.

Depending on which city or county a person is driving in, the rules can differ.

POLK COUNTY

The city of Lakeland is moving forward with putting speed detection cameras near at least eight schools.

Kevin Cook, the city’s director of communications, said the cameras were approved earlier this year and will be installed between September and October. He said city officials expect the system to go live on Nov. 4, at which point only warning citations will be issued for the first 30 days. After the warning period, normal fined citations will start being issued on Dec. 3

Lakeland’s move comes after the city of Lake Alfred decided to install school zone speed cameras last fall.

Polk County reported that 25 students were involved in vehicle-vs-pedestrian crashes in the 2023-2024 school year, which prompted city leaders in Lakeland to approve the change.

Polk County Superintendent Fred Heid said he supports the use of speed cameras in school zones.

“It’s well known that we rank nationally in pedestrian accidents and fatalities,” Heid said. “So for me, anything we can do, or our municipalities can do to invest in promoting safety … I can’t say enough of it, I can’t support it enough. I think our sheriff agrees.”

MANATEE COUNTY

Manatee County and the city of Bradenton approved using school zone speed cameras for the 2024-2025 school year. Manatee County discontinued the program, but the city of Bradenton kept the speed zone camera enforcement in place for this school year.

That means in Manatee County, only the 10 cameras located in Bradenton are active.

That includes nine public schools, including Manatee High, and one private school.

The cameras are active the entire school day, beginning 30 minutes before school starts and ending 30 minutes after school finishes. They enforce the posted speed limit.

Violations of $100 are issued to the registered owners of vehicles that are traveling 10 mph or more over the posted speed limit. The violations are not the same as traffic tickets. If a violation isn’t paid or appealed within 30 days, however, the violation then becomes a formal traffic citation.

All 10 of Bradenton’s cameras were active by the second semester of last school year, and between them, 12,300 violations were issued.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

Last year, Hillsborough County launched “Operation Safe Passage,” which aims to enhance road safety. The county installed school zone speed cameras at a number of school campuses.

While the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office did not provide a list of the schools participating in the program, a spokesperson confirmed signs near the school zone will indicate if a camera is at that location.

The 30-day warning period has ended, and once all school zone signs are updated with the current times for this school year, the zones will be fully operational.

Tickets will be issued if the speed limit is exceeded while lights on the sign are flashing.

“When the school zone sign is flashing, the camera will issue violations for speeds exceeding 10 mph over the flashing school zone speed limit,” said HSCO Public Relations Coordinator Camille Gayle.

The cameras in Hillsborough County are only active when school zone signs are flashing, unlike the city of Bradenton, where the cameras are active for the entirety of the school day.