ORLANDO, Fla. — Speed detection cameras could soon make their way to school zones across the city after the Orlando City Council on Monday passed the first reading of an ordinance that would allow cameras to take pictures and send fines to school zone speeders.

What You Need To Know

  • The Orlando City Council voted Monday to approve an ordinance on first reading that would allow speed detection cameras in school zones
     
  • The speed detection cameras are allowed thanks to House Bill 657, which gives municipalities the ability to install them in school zones

  • It was was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year

Under House Bill 657, local governments are now able to deploy the use of speed detection cameras in designated school zones.

The cameras have already been used in Eustis, where more than 760 warnings were issued during the system's probationary period. That was at one elementary school alone, and only over the course of about a month.

City officials have flagged 23 schools as having an increased risk of traffic concerns. Among them are Boone High School and Blanker School, which are near where Orlando resident Jim Grogan lives.

Grogan has been living in the neighborhood since the 1980's, and said sometimes the street outside turns into a race track.

"Some years back, they had a community meeting and they brought this issue up to no avail," he said. "It got nowhere."

If Orlando City Council decides to move forward with speed detection cameras, there will be a public information campaign followed by a round of warning citations. After that, fines will be $100 to violators.

"We want to take those efforts and make those measures stick," said Orlando deputy director of transportation Christina Martin. "And make people aware it just takes a couple more minutes just to go a little slower."

One caveat of House Bill 657 is that cameras can only be used during the following time frames: 

  • 30 minutes before, through 30 minutes after the start of a breakfast program
  • 30 minutes before, through 30 minutes after the start of a school day
  • During the entirety of a school day
  • 30 minutes before, through 30 minutes after the end of a school day

That means that the cameras won't be catching speeders at the end of the day.

The Orlando City Council will still need to pass the ordinance in a second reading before the project can move forward. It is scheduled to be discussed again on July 15.