Boca Raton to Deploy Speed Cameras in School Zones in Pilot Program

A school zone notice in Boca Raton, Fla. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Boca Raton will become Florida’s newest city to deploy speed cameras in school zones, taking advantage of a 2023 law that allows for the placement of such cameras and sets up framework as to how citation revenue will be divided-up.

The city council unanimously passed the speed camera measure this week, awarding a contract to RedSpeed Florida to provide the first tranche of cameras, the locations and number of which have yet to be determined.

“The initial phase will be considered a pilot,” said Public Works Director Zachary Bihr. “For this, it will depend if the vendor is successful to deploy the initial stations. If they are not able to meet the city’s needs, of course the city will evaluate all potential vendors.”

The agreement with RedSpeed Florida allows the city to acquire cameras – on fixed signs or mobile platforms – and use the company’s software and payment processing through June 24, 2029. The agreement then provides for an optional five-year renewal. The contract is non-exclusive and the program could be terminated if officials are unsatisfied with the outcome of the pilot program.

The state law enabling the use of speed cameras in school zones tightly regulates their deployment, however motorists have still cried foul in some municipalities where they have been installed. The law allows for automated speed enforcement beginning 30 minutes before the school day starts, during the entirety of the school day, and within 30 minutes after it ends. Speeds more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit may be photo enforced. While officials have touted the program as a tool to decrease the number of pedestrian accidents in school zones, drivers in some jurisdictions have complained that they are not aware when the regulations are in effect since each school begins and ends at a different time, and there may be no apparent sign of students a half-hour before or after the school day ends. Those concerns were not addressed at the council meeting, nor did any members of the public speak during a public comment period.

“It’s going to take at least several months” to get the system deployed, said Bihr. “There are going to be hiccups at the beginning. They’re going to have to have the officers trained to evaluate tickets, and we’re going to have to coordinate with the vendor. It will be several months to make sure the equipment is operating as it should.”

The program will begin with a grace period during which warnings will be sent out rather than violations. After that period ends, violation notices for $100 will be mailed to the registered owner of a vehicle that violates the speed limit. Since camera systems cannot be cross-examined in court, the violations would not accrue points on drivers’ licenses.

For each $100.00 fine collected by RedSpeed, the company will receive $21. The city will receive a payment of $39 to be used for “city public safety initiatives,” as permissible under the law. The remaining $40 from each fine will be distributed to various funds mandated by law, with $5 going to the city for the School Crossing Guard Recruitment and Retention Program, $12 to the Palm Beach County School District, $20 to the Florida General Fund, and $3 to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Training.

“This is a safety concern,” said Mayor Steven Singer, emphasizing that the program is not intended to generate revenue. “We should address it – we should’ve addressed it earlier but we’re addressing it now.”

Each violation will be reviewed by a sworn police officer, said City Manager George Brown, though in the future, civilians with specific training may be authorized to review camera footage and determine if a notice should be sent.

“We’re ready to hit the ground running,” said Greg Parks, Senior Vice President of RedSpeed Florida, who came to the meeting.

Parks said some towns have experienced a 95 percent reduction in speeding with only a 10 percent recidivism rate.

Boca Raton may face some challenges in deploying the cameras on county roads, however. Each county road deployment would require a permit from the Palm Beach County commissioners, which may not look as fondly on the program as city officials.

“Since this is a pilot program, staff’s recommendation would be to deploy those cameras on city roads,” said Bihr. “Dealing with the county is going to be a challenge.”

Locally, Delray Beach is also considering a speed camera program for school zones, though it has yet to be enacted. Deerfield Beach already has such a program in place, and Boynton Beach is well-known for its red light camera enforcement regime.

Bihr acknowledged not all drivers will be happy with the program, but its benefits outweigh the costs. Boca Raton officials specifically dove deep into the deployment of school zone speed cameras in Manatee County, where more than 50,000 citations have been mailed to drivers.

“There are probably going to be some residents who will be disappointed to get a citation, but it is also the law to not [speed] through a school zone,” he said, adding that message boards with flashing notices will be deployed prior to the start of the program.