The Tallahassee Police Department will officially begin administering $100 fines for school zone camera infractions starting Sept. 11, which follows a 30-day warning period.
Police launched cameras in two school zones the last two months of the 2024-25 school year. As of the new school year, they launched even more cameras at nearly 15 other schools, with signs posted on 22 roadways advising drivers they’re on camera.
More than 2,500 warning letters were mailed to violators during the 30-day period, which began Aug. 11, but no fines were issued.
Which school zones currently have cameras?
Bond Elementary School: On Saxon Street and Campbell Street
Conley Elementary School: On Orange Avenue
Desoto Trail Elementary School: On Velda Dairy Road and Kerry Forest Parkway
Elizabeth Cobb Middle School and Kate Sullivan Elementary School: On Hillcrest Road
Gilchrist Elementary School: On Timberlane Road
Griffin Middle School: On Old Bainbridge Road and Alabama Street
Hartsfield Elementary School: On Chowkeebin Nene
Hawks Rise Elementary School: On Meadow Ridge
Kate Sullivan Elementary School: On Miccosukee Road and Mitchell Avenue
Lincoln High School and Apalachee Tapestry Magnet School of the Arts: On Trojan Trail
Riley Elementary School: On Alabama Street
Roberts Elementary School and Montford Middle School: On Pimlico Drive
Ruediger Elementary School and Augusta Raa Middle School: On Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Tharpe Street
Sabal Palm Elementary School: On Eisenhower Street
Sealy Elementary School: On Fulton Road and Allen Road
Spring Wood Elementary School: On Fred George Road
Swift Creek Middle School: On Pedrick Road
A school zone speed enforcement camera is set up in front of Raa Middle School. As of right now, there are two active cameras are in the school zones for Ruediger Elementary and Raa Middle School near North MLK Jr. Boulevard and West Tharpe Street, and Desoto Trail Elementary on Kerry Forest Parkway.
When are the cameras on?
Exact times vary depending on the individual school schedule, according to TPD, but cameras will generally be functioning:
Within 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after a “regularly scheduled breakfast program.”
During the entirety of a regularly scheduled school session.
Within 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the end of a regularly scheduled school session.
Cameras will be active during the the school calendar year, but will be turned off whenever school is not in session.
That includes weekends, holidays, winter break, spring break, teacher planning days and other holidays.
A school zone speed enforcement camera is set up in front of Raa Middle School. As of right now, there are two active cameras are in the school zones for Ruediger Elementary and Raa Middle School near North MLK Jr. Boulevard and West Tharpe Street, and Desoto Trail Elementary on Kerry Forest Parkway.
How fast is too fast?
Tickets will be issued if a driver exceeds the posted speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour, meaning one must be driving 11 miles per hour over before the camera software detects a speeding violation.
If the school zone lights are flashing, drivers exceeding the reduced speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour will receive a ticket.
When school zone lights are flashing, the speed limit usually drops to 15 or 20 miles per hour. “You can’t drive 26 (miles per hour) or you’ll get a ticket,” Revell previously told the Tallahassee Democrat.
If the normal speed limit is 30 miles per hour and one is driving 41 miles per hour in that area, “it will cite you,” Revell said.
Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@tallahassee.com and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee police to begin enforcing $100 school zone speeding fines