Effective July 1, 2023, Florida law allows camera enforcement of school zone speed limits and illegal passing of school buses. School traffic camera enforcement and safety has especially been a topic of discussion for our Northeast Florida communities and team members.
Planning for School Traffic Camera Enforcement in Florida
FDOT District Two Traffic Operations Engineer Jim Hannigan explained the proposed guidelines. He answered questions during a recent Districtwide Team meeting.
Pursuant to Section 316.0776, Florida Statutes (F.S.), the FDOT may approve the placement or installation of a Speed Detection System (SDS) in a School Zone on the State Highway System (SHS), as defined in Section 334.03(24), F.S. SDS installations on the SHS must be authorized through a General Use Permit in accordance with Rule 14-20.010 of the Florida Administrative Code. This is similar to the process used for Automated License Plate Recognition (LPR) Systems and Traffic Infraction Detectors (Red Light Running Cameras).
If your community is interested, please visit the FDOT School Zone Speed Detection System webpage to read an overview of the process and criteria, which include:
- Placement and Installation Specifications
- Special Provisions for General Use Permit
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contact Information
Florida Enforcement of School ZONE Speed Limits Law
- Florida House Bill (HB 657): Enforcement of School Zone Speed Limits was approved by the Governor on May 31, 2023
- Laws of Florida Chapter No. 2023-174
School ZONE Speed Detection Cameras – District Two News and Information:
- Action News Jax: Speeding in the zone: Ride-along shows persistent school zone speed violations in Duval County, 05/19/25
- Main Street Daily News: Gainesville continues red-light camera enforcement plan – The Gainesville City Commission finalized its red-light camera plan on Thursday and passed a first vote for school zone cameras to monitor speeding, but implementation for both remains a few months away. 05/16/25
- Neptune Beach speeding cameras issue 30 tickets per day in first three weeks, First Coast News, 05/09/25
- Slow on the road: First school zones in speed enforcement program become active, Tallahassee Democrat 3/31/25
- Speed cameras may be coming around Palatka schools 3/17/25 JaxToday
- Neptune Beach school zone cameras will issue citations starting April 3 – First Coast News, 01/31/25
- City of Palatka: Cameras proposed to boost school zone safety – Palatka Daily News, 01/28/25
- Gainesville, Alachua County move forward with school speed cameras – Main Street Daily News, 10/11/24
- Alachua County is moving forward with plans to install new speed detection systems to enforce speed limits near schools: Speed detection systems could be installed in Alachua County school zones by next spring – The Gainesville Sun, 10/02/24
- The City of Neptune Beach wants to put a stop to speeders in school zones: City of Neptune Beach looks to bring speed cameras to school zones if approved by council – Action News Jax, 02/19/24
Neptune Beach City Council votes to allow speed ticket cameras in school zones – First Coast News, 03/05/2024 - The City of Lawtey in Bradford has signed a contract with RedSpeed. – Major Nathan Blom, Lawtey Police Department
School ZONE Speeding in the News in other areas throughout Florida:
- City of Boca Raton Implements School Zone Safety Cameras, Boca Raton Tribune, 07/23/25
- Push for school speed cameras after student was hit, killed while crossing Orlando road, News Channel 2000, 04/29/25
- How often are schools facing speeding drivers? A Broward study counts exactly how many, South Florida Sun Sentinel 04/22/25
- 4/10/25 Baker County Press: School zone speed enforcement cameras
- Osceola Speed Safety program starts phase 2 warnings, Phase 1 Citations to Begin, WFTV 3/25/25
- Manatee commissioners vote to end school zone camera program – Spectrum News, 03/04/2025
- Other municipalities in Florida are also considering or already planning to implement a speed detection system. For example, at present, these include Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Coconut Creek in Broward, Eustis in Lake County, and Winter Garden in Orange County.
Florida Enforcement of School BUS Passing Violations Law
- Florida Senate Bill (SB 766): Enforcement of School Bus Passing Infractions was approved by the Governor on May 31, 2023
- Laws of Florida Chapter No. 2023-171
School BUS Camera Programs – Florida News and Information:
- Miami-Dade schools to audit bus camera program after investigation reveals issues, Miami Herald, 05/15/25
- School bus safety program could get an overhaul, thanks to an assist from the Pinellas Sheriff, Florida Politics, 04/28/25
- Drivers hit with school bus camera fine in Polk County must pay more to appeal it, 04/25/25 WTXL
- Florida school bus cameras generate millions for school districts 2/13/25 Fox4 Southwest Florida: “More than 100,000 drivers were cited for illegally passing a Florida school bus.”
- Miami school bus cameras cited 11,500 drivers in the first two weeks of school 8/28/24 Miami Herald
- New bus stop-arm technology unveiled in Ponte Vedra to accurately detect violations, ensure student safety 6/16/2024 News4Jax
- News4Jax article DeSantis signs school bus camera bill
- August 2023: Duval County schools add cameras to buses to catch illegal passing -News4Jax
We are following the usage of school zone speed detection and school bus cameras to improve safety and deter illegal speeding and passing. If you are aware of any other local municipalities in Northeast Florida that plan to install and maintain cameras for enforcement purposes, please let us know.