Manatee County to consider speed limit cameras in school zones next week

Those who speed in school zones may soon be caught on camera in Manatee County and subject to penalty if a new initiative by officials is approved next week.

Manatee County commissioners will consider plans to install speed cameras in local school zones during the county commission meeting on Tuesday.

The measure would not be the first time Manatee County employees have cameras to monitor traffic safety and penalize offenders who put school children and parents at risk. The county previously operated red light cameras to monitor traffic infractions at select intersections. However, the county ended the program in 2022.

Manatee County Chairman Mike Rahn said the school zone cameras are a different story because of the likelihood that many children, parents, and crossing guards could be walking through the area during high-traffic hours.

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"The school zone cameras provide much more protection, much more safety than the red light cameras did when they were in effect," Rahn said. "There was a lot of public pushback on red light cameras, but we feel that there is more of an impact protecting our school children and their parents."

Footage produced by the cameras would be reviewed by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, where officers will confirm whether a speed limit infraction has occurred.

The effort takes advantage of a new law signed by Gov. Ron Desantis last year that allows counties to install speed detection systems in school zones to detect violations of 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. It also requires counties to post signage alerting the public that video enforcement is being used to monitor school zone speed limits.

Rahn said if the effort moves forward, the intent would be to roll the cameras into place for the upcoming school year.

"Eventually every school zone will have one of these cameras to make sure that people are abiding by the law," he said.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Manatee County set to consider speed limit cameras in school zones