Haines City approves speed-detection cameras in school zones, the first in Polk County

Haines City may become the first in Polk County to install automated speed detection cameras to slow down traffic in its school zones.

Haines City officials voted 4-0 on Thursday night to approve the installation of school zone speed limit detection systems within city limits. Vice Mayor Morris West was absent from Thursday's meeting.

"We try to have as many officers in school zones as possible," Haines City Police Chief Greg Goreck said Thursday night. "We have to have some kind of mechanism to hold those people who are blatantly barreling through our school zones accountable."

A Florida law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that went into effect July 1, 2023, allows municipalities to use a camera system to enforce speed limits in school zones. This year, some counties and municipalities have started installing the cameras, from Eustis to Tampa and Osceola County.

"The decision to draft and present this ordinance to the City Commission was not solely based on reoccurring complaints from our community stakeholders regarding speeding vehicles in our school zones; but also on the data gathered during speed studies, which supports the allegations that there are significant speeding violations occurring within our school zones on a daily basis," Goreck said.

Studies show the average risk of severe injury for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle reached 75% at 39 mph, with risk of death hitting 50% at 42 mph, according to a study from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. These risks vary by age, with young children being especially vulnerable.

Haines City had Verra Mobility Corp. conduct speed studies in the school zones within city limits. Verra Mobility is a publicly traded company based in Mesa, Arizona, that manufactures Flock cameras and red-light traffic cameras.

Verra Mobility ran a speed study demonstration in 26 of Haines City's school speed zones from Jan. 16 to 18. The study showed more than 30% of drivers were breaking the speed limit in some areas:

• 30.5% of drivers south on South 22nd Street approaching Shelley S. Boone Middle.

• 30.4% of drivers heading north on Scenic Highway/State Road 17 approaching Scenic Terrace school.

• 29.5% of drivers heading east on East Grace Avenue/Hornet Drive approaching Haines City High School.

With the city's approval in hand, Goreck said the police department will begin pricing different speed detection systems and select a potential vendor. The proposed contract will have to be brought back to the City Commission for consideration, including any budgetary costs, and approval before installation can begin.

Many speed detection system manufacturers have agreements that work similar to red-light traffic cameras, according to Goreck, in that often there is no upfront cost to the municipality but they collect money from the fee assessed.

Under Florida Law, the speed detection cameras can be used to enforce school zone speed limits up to 30 minutes before and after any regularly scheduled school breakfast programs, the start time of school, the entirety of the school day and after the school's release time.

Commissioner Vernal Smith asked whether state law allowed the flexibility for the city to continue to enforce school zone speed limits while after-school programs are taking place. Goreck said he would have to look into the matter.

“I want to set the minds of our community members at ease. These systems will not be used for any type of enforcement against the law-abiding citizen who may accidentally be a couple miles per hour over the posted speed limit in our school zones," Goreck said. "These systems are used to properly address those drivers who are barreling through our school zones at double digits over the speed limit.”

The state statute speaks to drivers who are 10 mph or more over the posted school zone speed limit.

Goreck said he hopes to have a speed detection system in place by the start of next school year. Under state law, the police department will need to launch a 30-day educational campaign once the cameras are installed before it can begin issuing citations.

Any potential violations detected by the automated system will be reviewed by a trained law enforcement officer, Goreck said, before a notice is sent to the vehicle's owner. He said the average fine is about $150.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Haines City approves adding speed detection cameras to school zones