Leon County is starting to activate speed cameras in school zones as part of a statewide statute to stop reckless driving around schools in Florida.

House Bill 657 was passed into law in May 2023. The bill allows cities to put speed cameras around the state’s school zones. 

It requires clear signs notifying drivers of the presence of cameras and a mandatory public meeting providing updates and data about the cameras.

The Tallahassee City Commission approved an ordinance on May 8, 2024. A few months later the company Red Speed provided the cameras to the city. The school zones with cameras that are known to be activated at this time are the ones around Raa Middle School and Desoto Trail Elementary School. More school speed cameras will slowly be activated as time goes on.

According to the Tallahassee Police Department, the cameras take a picture of the license plate of a vehicle going over the speed limit and a citation will be mailed to the owner of the car. Initially, the driver won’t receive any points on their license if they are issued a citation, but if they do not take care of it in 30 days points will be issued. 

The camera will monitor motorists 30 minutes before school breakfast begins, during regular school hours and 30 minutes after school ends. This is different from the previous rule that people are supposed to follow reduced speed before and after school hours. 

The cameras are operated by Red Speed, which provides the cameras to the city. There will be regular maintenance on the cameras which  will not be at any cost to taxpayers.

The Tallahassee Police Department says that they have heard complaints that the city is profiting off the school zone speed cameras. However, TPD Public Information Officer Lieutenant Damon Miller wants to put those rumors to rest.

“TPD we actually get a small percentage of it,” Miller said. “A lot of time it is actually going to the road system, Leon County Schools, it goes toward our school crossing guard program, and a lot of parents are for it.”

If a ticket is issued in the mail and motorists believe it is unjust, they can request a hearing to challenge the ticket. Or, if the owner was not driving the car at the time of the ticket, they can give the name of the person driving the car and the ticket will be re-issued to them.

This can all be done online at secure.speedviolation.com