News Summary
The Leon County Commission has approved an automated speed enforcement program for school zones to improve traffic safety around schools. Following a similar initiative by the city, this program began with a warning period and recorded numerous speeding violations in its initial week. With a focus on altering driver behavior, the initiative aims to protect children during school hours and expects to generate significant annual revenue for safety programs. Additional cameras will be installed to further enhance monitoring efforts in both urban and unincorporated areas.
TALLAHASSEE – The Leon County Commission has approved the implementation of an automated school zone speed enforcement program in an effort to enhance traffic safety around schools amid rising concerns. The decision was made during a meeting on April 8, 2025, where the commission directed staff to draft an ordinance for future consideration by the Board.
This initiative follows the adoption of a similar program by the City Commission on May 8, 2024. To manage the program, the city selected a vendor in June 2024 that will work in collaboration with the Tallahassee Police Department. The program started with a 30-day warning period in early February 2025, allowing drivers to familiarize themselves with the new enforcement measures before citations began being issued.
Automated enforcement cameras went live on March 28, 2025, and in the first week, they recorded a staggering 3,179 speeding violations, generating nearly $318,000 in fines. These violations primarily occurred at two designated school zones: one near Desoto Trail Elementary School on Kerry Forest and another close to RAA Middle School on Tharpe Street. The speed limit in these school zones reduces to either 15 or 20 miles per hour when school zone lights are operational, and enforcement applies to drivers exceeding that limit by 10 miles per hour or more.
A study conducted prior to the implementation revealed alarming statistics: out of 32 school zones examined, 23 showed high instances of speeding, with over 10 miles per hour above the speed limit. On a typical school day, it was estimated that around 23,198 potential speeding violations could occur within these zones. The county’s automated enforcement program is expected to generate approximately $275,000 annually, with 60% of the revenue allocated for public safety initiatives.
The enforcement program aims not only to penalize speeding but also to alter driver behavior to enhance safety for children during school hours. Typically, the fine for exceeding the speed limit in a school zone is $100, which is generally less than the amount typically incurred from officer-issued speeding citations. The revenue from fines will be distributed among the city, the vendor, the school district, and the state.
As the program runs throughout the school day, sometimes leading to confusion regarding operation times, drivers can receive citations for speeding even when school zone lights are not flashing. This element of the enforcement program emphasizes a proactive approach to safety, targeting offenders who exceed the designated speed limit by as little as 11 miles per hour.
More automated cameras are on the way, with a total of 23 additional units planned for installation. The Tallahassee Police Department, however, has not released a specific timeline regarding the rollout of these units. During a separate meeting in April, county commissioners also approved an ordinance to extend similar automated speeding enforcement measures to unincorporated areas, mirroring the city’s program with the same fine structure.
As this program continues to evolve, the primary goal remains to safeguard children and ensure that traffic violations around schools are effectively monitored and addressed. The county’s initiative parallels the city’s efforts, reinforcing community commitment to traffic safety in school zones and lowering the risk of accidents during peak school hours.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- Tallahassee.com: Schools Out But Speeding Zone Debate Continues
- Wikipedia: Traffic Enforcement
- Tallahassee Reports: Leon County Approves Speed Zone Camera Program
- Google Search: School Zone Speed Enforcement
- WTXL: Leon County Works on School Zone Speed Enforcement
- Google Scholar: Traffic Safety School Zone
- Tallahassee.com: School Zone Cameras Rack Up $318K in Fines
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic Law
Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER
The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
