Slow down: Leesburg soon might have cameras monitoring those school speed zones
The Leesburg City Commission is mulling a proposed Article VII ordinance, "School Zone Speed Enforcement," Chapter 21, "providing for purpose, intent and definitions" of establishing a school zone speed enforcement program and authorizing the use of speed detection systems within the city.
In other words: Speed-enforcement cameras may be installed at school zones.
The proposed ordinance will be discussed during the city commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. July 22.
The city commissioners are deciding on how to implement requirements and the designation of school zones enforced, administrative procedures, severability (a provision that allows the remainder of the legislation's or contract's terms to remain effective, even if one or more of its other terms or provisions are found to be unenforceable or illegal) and an effective date.
"This mirrors Eustis' agreement?" Commissioner Mike Pederson asked during the July 8 commission meeting's first reading of the ordinance.
"That is correct," City Attorney Grant Watson responded.
In Eustis, the first city in Florida to implement the school zone camera enforcement program, devices are installed at the city's public elementary schools, and the devices identify speeders exceeding 10 mph above the speed limit by photographing license plates.
As in Eustis, Leesburg's speed-detection cameras would only be operational during school hours. If the ordinance passes, the devices are scheduled to be implemented before the school year starts.
Drivers caught speeding more than 10 mph over the limit would get a warning for the first 30 days the devices are in use.
"There'll be multiple signs in all directions," Commissioner Alan Reisman assured.
Tickets start as a civil citation that costs $100 in Eustis. If the citation is not paid in 30 days, it becomes a moving traffic violation that will cost $164.
The devices are installed at elementary schools only.
The initial $100 fines would be the same, confirmed Leesburg Police Chief Joe Iozzi.
More: Demand for school crossing safety and speed cameras fuel debate at Lake commission meeting
Altumint, the company contracted by Eustis for its enforcement program, has been contracted for Leesburg, confirmed Iozzi. "Although we are still working through the approval process, and considering some logistical concerns, our ultimate intent is to enhance student safety in and around our Leesburg schools," Iozzi told the Daily Commercial. "This project will serve as an additional layer of protection for all students, faculty, staff and visitors."
Iozzi added that the city is "tentatively planning" a media day on Aug. 8 that will provide further specifics.
At the July 8 commission meeting, Pederson asked a common question related to camera devices: What if the driver is not the owner of the vehicle. Will the owner be cited?
"There is an affidavit process for someone who is the registered owner to send in and swear that they weren't the one driving the car that they had lent it to someone else and kind of rat out the other person to try and get out of it," Watson explained. "But just to make that point, there is a process for a registered owner not driving, at least to be able to challenge it."
Back in February, Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri explained to the Daily Commercial that school zone cameras differ from red-light cameras in how they are funded. Red-light cameras have been characterized as "cash cows" for local governments, he said.
The Altumint speed enforcement program is 100 percent violator-funded with no cost to taxpayers, the company said in a press statement.
"When I was in Daytona, we had a red-light cameras and it was sold as a money maker," Capri said. But "we're here to stop people speeding in school zones, to protect our kids, our, our staff and faculty and control speed."
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Speeders may be caught on camera in some Leesburg school zones
