Manatee school zone speeding cameras issue nearly $600K in fines in less than 3 weeks

Around $600,000 in speeding tickets have been issued after Manatee County flipped the switch on cameras that catch drivers speeding through local school zones.

The speed camera program, which has been approved by local government officials, began on the first day of school in August with an extended warning period. Starting Nov. 1, drivers caught going too fast in school zones have been hit with a $100 fine.

Since the beginning of the school year, more than 10,600 warnings have been issued with no fine, according to the sheriff’s office. In less than three weeks since ticketing began, more than 5,700 fines have been issued, deputies say.

Public safety officials say the goal is to get drivers to watch out for children and slow down in school zones.

“Because we should all be concerned about the safety of children, we shouldn’t have to remind motorists to slow down, that’s one number,” Sheriff Rick Wells said in a statement provided to the Bradenton Herald. “And secondly, if drivers just obey the posted speed limits, they don’t have to worry about receiving a fine.”

The county’s school zone cameras have issued 10,629 warnings between Aug. 12 and Nov. 5 and 5,716 tickets between Nov. 1 and Nov. 18, according to sheriff’s office records.

The cameras are operated by Redspeed, a Maryland-based company with similar camera systems in other parts of Florida, including Miami-Dade.

When are Manatee County school zone speed cameras active?

Officials began fining drivers $100 for going too fast in Bradenton-area school zones on Nov. 1. The RedSpeed cameras are active 30 minutes before the school day starts, throughout the school day and 30 minutes after the school day ends.

The county receives $65 from each ticket, the state receives $23 and the school district receives $12. District officials say their cut of the money will go toward school safety, student transportation and crosswalk guards.

Manatee County officials say RedSpeed installed its cameras at around two dozen schools at no cost to the government. However, the county sends the company $19.80 for each recorded violation. Based on the tickets issued as of Nov. 18, the company has received roughly $113,000 since ticket violations began at the beginning of November.

In a statement provided to the Bradenton Herald, a school district spokesperson said the cameras are key step in keeping students safe.

“The School District of Manatee County is thankful to the Manatee County Commissioners for initiating and instituting these additional safety measures to help keep our children and families safe as they travel to and from school,” district spokesman Mike Barber said.

The cameras capture a photo and record the speed of a vehicle going more than 10 miles over the posted speed limit in school zones.

There are signs that warn drivers that cameras are active in school zones throughout the county. A sheriff’s office deputy reviews video of the violation before a ticket is mailed to the driver.

For more information, visit www.MyManatee.org/Speedcams.

Read more at: https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article295373534.html#storylink=cpy