Cities, Counties Increasingly Install Speed Cameras in School Zones

Profits made from fines collected from motorists speeding in school zones are commonly split between the district, the municipality, and the technology vendor.

Published: June 25, 2025Author: Amy Rock

Adobe Stock Image by Jackson Photography

Cities and counties throughout the U.S. have increasingly installed speed cameras in school zones in recent months.

According to a study from SafeKids.org, which observed 39,000 middle and high school students and 56,000 drives in school zones, one in four high school students and one in six middle school students were distracted when walking. The distracted teens were most likely to be wearing headphones (44%) or texting (31%).

The study also determined about 80% of students exhibited unsafe street crossing behavior, such as crossing the street where there is no crosswalk or not looking before crossing. Additionally, unsafe drop-off or pick-up behavior was observed in nearly one in three drivers.

Overall, the study determined there are five teen pedestrian deaths each week in the United States.

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Florida: Tallahassee, Miami-Dade, Lakeland Install Speed Cameras in School Zones

Many Florida municipalities have invested in speed cameras for school zones since the passing of HB 657. Effective July 1, 2023, the legislation authorized Florida counties or municipalities to enforce speed limit in school zone through speed detection systems. Among its requirements, the state’s Department of Transportation must establish specifications, the public must be notified in advance, and law enforcement must implement a school crossing guard recruitment and retention program, among other things.

In Tallahassee, the School Zone Camera Safety Program was introduced during the 2024-2025 school year with the installation of cameras in school zones. Photographic evidence is used to issue a Notice of Violation to the registered owner of a vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 10 mph. Speeders are hit with a $100 fine, and the money is split among the city, the vendor, the school district, and the state. All collected fines will first be used to pay off the program.

The first two active school zone speed enforcement cameras went live on March 28. The cameras are activated throughout the entire school day but turned off on weekends and during school breaks. More than 3,179 speeding tickets had been issued as of May 2, equating to almost $318,000 with the city profiting nearly $124,000, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

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While the Tallahassee Police Department doesn’t have a specific timeline, 23 more cameras are expected to be activated over the course of the year.

“Long term, yes, I think it’s going to be a huge success for us as far as trying to deter any type of speeding that’s going to end up possibly hurting a child or a school crossing guard or teacher or parent,” Tallahassee Police Department Major Jeff Mahoney told the Tallahassee Democrat.

In Lakeland, Fla., officials approved spending more than $380,000 to add speed detection cameras in school zones, as well as more red-light cameras and surveillance to city streets, The Ledger reports. The cameras will be added to 14 select school zones within city limits. Hans Lehman, assistant chief of Lakeland Police Department, said the goal is to have the systems installed by Oct. 1.

The cameras will capture video and license plate registration information on drivers traveling more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit. Each potential violation will be reviewed by police before a citation is issued. On each $100 ticket, the vendor will receive 35% of the city’s $60 revenue while the remaining revenue will go to the state for various programs.

In Miami-Dade County, speed cameras were activated in 11 school zones in June, CBS News reports. Drivers going more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit receive a $100 citation in the mail and must pay the fine within 30 days or request a court hearing within the same time period to contest the violation. The cameras are active every school day, including 30 minutes before school starts and 30 minutes after dismissal. Cameras will stay active through July 25 and then be turned off until the new school year begins in mid-August.

Officials says the cameras will eventually be installed in 206 school zones throughout Miami-Dade.

Virginia: Charlottesville, Fairfax County Add Speed Cameras to School Zones

In Charlottesville, Va., speed cameras were activated in several school zones last month, according to 29 News. The cameras are triggered if a driver goes more than 10 mph over the posted 15 mph limit. and speeders will be issued a $100 fine. Charlottesville Public Safety Information Officer Kyle Ervin said cameras are active one hour before and after drop off and dismissal.

“We will finish out the month of May with just the warning cycles, so there won’t be any citations issued this school year,” Brennen Duncan, the city’s traffic engineer, said back in April, noting there will be another warning period at the beginning of next school year before fines are officially issued.

Fairfax County announced earlier this month that it will expand its speed camera program to 10 more public schools this summer, several months after it announced plans to install the devices, FFX Now reports.

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The county gave the public notice on June 2, indicating it would roll out the new cameras in two batches, starting with three cameras in early July. An additional seven cameras will be activated on Aug. 18. A warning period for the first three cameras is scheduled to begin July 2.

Fairfax County currently has nine school zones with speed cameras. The first phase of the program will bring a total of 50 new cameras, including the 10 that were recently announced, by June 30, 2026. A second expansion with 30 cameras is planned for fiscal year 2027.

New York: Syracuse, Albany Install Speed Cameras in School Zones

In New York, the city of Syracuse recently installed red light and speed cameras in school zones. Violations are scheduled to begin in mid-August and early September, according to CNY Central. The fine is $50 per violation. The cameras were approved by the Syracuse Public Works and Public Safety Committees in Dec. 2024.

The city also rolled out the School Bus Stop-arm Cameras program in May, installing cameras on 213 buses to capture motorists who drive past a school bus that has its stop-arm out. First-time offenders will be fined $250. A second violation within 18 months lead to a $275 fine while a third violation within 18 months will lead to a $300 fine.

Two hours away in Albany, N.Y., city officials report school zone speeding cameras have resulted in $3.24 million in fines since they were implemented last October. Revenue from the fines is divided between the city and the company operating the cameras, with the city receiving 40% and the company receiving 60%.

How to Improve School Zone Safety

SafeKids.org recommends schools and communities take the following precautions to protect student pedestrians:

Install proven interventions, like crosswalks, speed limits, visible signs, and traffic lights
Set and enforce speed limits in school zones no more than 20 mph
Educate parents and students about dangerous walking and driving habits (e.g. crossing mid-block, texting, or talking on the phone)
Implement and enforce school drop-off and pick-up policies

Here are some Campus Safety resources and news stories that stress the need for schools to enforce pedestrian safety best practices: