OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — You’ll want to rethink speeding through school zones in Osceola County now.
▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS
County commissioners voted Monday afternoon to install speed detection systems in school zones.
Commissioner Brandon Arrington said the county is in the early stages of planning. The county does not have a timeline for when these cameras will go up. Arrington says the county also doesn’t know which schools—if not all of them— the cameras will be installed at.
However, a county study identified 16 areas with “heightened safety risk” among 14 schools where cameras are recommended.
Read: Valencia College’s robotics program looking to fill job needs in Central Florida
Of the over 65,000 cars that passed through monitored school zones, 63% of drivers were speeding, the study says.
Some drivers in these areas were found going over 70 mph in a 20 during school hours.
“We’re trying to utilize every resource we have in front of us to make our roads safe,” Arrington says.
Read: Brevard Public School book review committee back at work
The speed detection system would operate like red light cameras.
It will detect a vehicle’s speed using radar and capture a picture or video of its tag.
If the driver goes 11 mph or more over the speed limit, speeders will be fined $100 per violation.
Read: FSU fans shocked, disappointed as undefeated team denied spot in College Football Playoff
“We don’t want to give tickets to anybody. We want people to comply and be safe for all the roadways so our kids are safe,” Arrington said.
The commission’s decision came after Florida House Bill 657 took effect on July 1. The law allows municipalities to put cameras in school zones to fine drivers going more than ten mph over the posted speed limit.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.