Tallahassee drivers should slow down or run the risk of a speeding ticket as the first areas in the School Zone Speed Enforcement Program have finally become active.
Both school zones for Ruediger Elementary/Raa Middle near North MLK Jr. Boulevard and West Tharpe Street, and Desoto Trail Elementary on Kerry Forest Parkway became active March 28, according to a social media post by the Tallahassee Police Department.
More than 20 other schools are expected to activate soon though no specific dates have been set.
Background: Lights, camera, ticket: Everything you need to know about school zone speeding crackdown
The city commission approved an ordinance last May to follow a state law passed in 2024. The city had hoped to get the program up and running at the start of the school year in August – but now the wait is over.
When will the cameras be on?
Cameras will be activated throughout the entire school day, not just when the school zone lights are flashing. This includes:
Cameras will be turned off on weekends and other breaks such as Thanksgiving and spring break. Over the summer, the cameras will remain off unless summer school is in.
How fast is too fast?
Tickets will be issued if a driver exceeds the posted speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour, meaning one must be driving 11 miles per hour over before the camera software detects a speeding violation.
How much are the fines?
School zone speeders will be slapped with a $100 fine.
As previously reported, the city commission voted unanimously last June to enter a five-year contract with RedSpeed Florida, LLC, a traffic control company.
The ticket money will be split among the city, the vendor, the school district and the state. Once a violator pays the ticket, RedSpeed takes its fees of $21 and then deposits the rest to the city.
From there, the remaining $79 is split with TPD receiving $39, State of Florida general fund receiving $20, the local school board receiving $12, the local crossing guard program receiving $5 and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Education Fund receiving $3, according to a PowerPoint breakdown provided by TPD.
All the collected fines will work to pay off the program, meaning it will cost taxpayers nothing.
What are the options if you receive a ticket?
There are three options drivers can choose from if they are given a ticket:
According to the city of Tallahassee website, instructions on each option will be included on the Notice of Violation.
Where will the cameras be?
This story contains previously published material. Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@tallahassee.com and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Slow on the road: First school zones in speed enforcement program become active, TPD says
Reporting by Arianna Otero, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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