PANAMA CITY − City Manager Jonathan Hayes is confident the city has fixed the speeding problem near at least one local school.
According to Hayes, speed detection systems outside two local schools will no longer be active starting Aug. 10, the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.
The schools are the St. Andrew School at Oakland Terrace and Holy Nativity Episcopal School.
The reasons for the changes: St. Andrew School is being demolished, and data shows there no longer is a speeding problem near Holy Nativity.
“Hopefully that points to the fact that this isn’t a money grab,” Hayes said. “We realize that there’s not really a problem there, so we are not going to be running the RedSpeed program in and around Holy Nativity.”
That said, speed detection systems still are in place at nine other schools in Panama City. Past reports note they are:
The speed detection systems are possible thanks to a partnership between RedSpeed, Panama City and the Panama City Police Department. RedSpeed is overseeing and managing the systems, which flag drivers traveling more than 10 mph over the speed limit.
That data is then reviewed by a Panama City police officer. If given the OK, a $100 fine is issued to the owner of the vehicle.
The owner is responsible for paying the fine, unless they can prove the vehicle was driven by someone else, or that they were already ticketed by a police officer for the same offense. Officials have said violations do not add license points or affect insurance rates.
Hayes noted the speeding issue at Holy Nativity was resolved thanks to additional stop signs that were installed in the area. He also said RedSpeed plans to remove the speed detection equipment from St. Andrew School and Holy Nativity.
Hayes expects for officials to possibly consider adding the systems to other local schools.
“We are looking at it, and of course we’re going to want to see data,” he said. “We want to have that conversation first, (and) it’s nothing we’re doing in the next 30 days. (Commissioners) have been clear they’re going to want to see data, and all these decisions are going to be data-driven decisions.”
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City deactivating speed detection systems at two local schools
Reporting by Nathan Cobb, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nathan Cobb, Panama City News Herald | USA TODAY Network
