Bradenton leaders vote in favor of school zone speed detection cameras
BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) — On Wednesday, Bradenton City Council members voted 4-1 in favor of adopting an ordinance to install speed detection cameras throughout school zones in the city.
This is part of a state-wide effort to make students commutes to and from school safer.
“I would love to put a cop in every school zone before and after school every day,” said Bradenton Police Department Captain Brian Thiers. “It’s just not possible.”
Despite District 4 Councilwoman Lisa Gonzales Moore’s opposition, city leaders have officially decided to implement speed enforcement cameras within 9 school zones throughout Bradenton.
“Do you ever see people speeding through school zones?” we asked a Bradenton parent. “Quite often actually,” she responded.
Melissa Bomar drops her kids off at school every day in Bradenton.
While in favor of creating safer school zones, she believes it’s not always the seemingly speedy driver’s fault.
“If there was more I guess not notification, but awareness of where the school zones are other than just a flashing light just here or there I think that would bring awareness to the drivers as well,” Bomar said.
She said she wishes there were more signage, and better lighting to make it clear when you’re in a Bradenton school zone, especially because not everyone is familiar with the area.
“The State of Florida has outlined very specific instructions in the state law that we will have to comply with to include ensuring our signage is correct, including notifying motor vehicle drivers that there is photo enforcement going on in that area,” said Captain Thiers.
By the start of the 2024-2025 school year those who speed 10 miles or more over the school zone speed limit during enforcement hours are expected to receive a $100 ticket.
Those who receive one will have the opportunity to appeal the ticket.
In a recent study throughout the nine school zones the cameras will soon appear in, the city found that more than 3,000 drivers daily speed 10 miles per hour or more during school zone enforcement hours.
The new cameras should help reduce the danger those drivers are causing students.
The new cameras are not expected to cost the city money but rather generate revenue.
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