Automatic school speed zone videos advance

Miami-Dade commissioners without discussion gave preliminary approval last week to the installation of speed detection systems in 206 public and private school zones in unincorporated areas.

A public hearing on the measure is due Oct. 10 before the Chairman’s Policy Council and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. If the committee recommends approval, final commission action will be scheduled later.

The measure, sponsored by Vice Chairman Anthony Rodriguez, would piggyback on a state law signed this year that provides that a county may enforce speed limits on roadways maintained as school zones by using speed detection systems.

In Florida, school zones have minimum speed limits of 15 miles per hour and maximum limits of 20. These limits apply only in established and posted hours when young children are likely to be present.

The county legislation says that “speed violations in school zones in the unincorporated area of the county are rampant, with the Miami-Dade Police Department issuing nearly 2,500 citations for speeding in a school zone in the last year alone.”

The legislation says that while county police have issued those citations, they could have issued many more as while they have stopped one speeding driver, others can speed past with impunity.

No warnings are issued for driving above the limit in school zones. State law provides that fines for exceeding school zone speed limits up to 9 miles per hour is $50, rising to $200 for speeding 10 to 15 miles over the zone limit. For 25 to 29 miles over the limit the fine is $300. Over 30 miles above the limit, the fine starts at $250 but a judge would be allowed to double that depending on circumstances.

This year’s new state law allows counties to install a “portable or fixed automated system used to detect a motor vehicle’s speed using radar or LiDAR and to capture a photograph or video” of cars that speed past.

The speed detection system and photos or videos, the state law says, can be used to cite motorists going more than 10 miles over the speed limit in the zone.

The legislation from Mr. Rodriguez would authorize the use of such speed detecting and recording devices but doesn’t detail costs or funding of equipment or labor involved in dealing with 206 separate school zones. His measure lists names and addresses of the 206 schools, with no indication of study of the traffic at any of them.

The county would have to annually report the results of all school speed zone traffic systems.

State law requires that the county post signs wherever photographic or video enforcement of school zone speeds are in effect, listing the hours of enforcement. State law also requires the county to announce the program and “conduct a public awareness campaign” at least 30 days before starting enforcement.