Fort Walton Beach considers speed-enforcement cameras for school zones

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Fort Walton Beach City Council on Tuesday agreed for the Fort Walton Beach Police Department to prepare a draft ordinance to allow speed cameras in school zones for traffic enforcement.

Here is what we know.

Background

As Police Chief Robert Bage and Councilman Payne Walker stated, complaints about those speeding in Fort Walton Beach are nothing new. In fact, Walker said speeding complaints are one of the most common he receives from residents.

On May 31, 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 657 into law, allowing counties and municipalities to enforce speed limits in school zones through a speed detection system. State law requires a local ordinance to be passed before the project can be implemented.

As Bage revealed in a memorandum, the Florida Department of Transportation established rules and procedures for obtaining a permit in December 2023, allowing municipalities and counties to begin speed enforcement programs in school zones.

Study Results

In a three-day window from April 9-11, Verra Mobility, a speed-camera supplier, conducted a traffic study that focused on the areas around Edwins Elementary, Bruner Middle, Pryor Middle, Fort Walton Beach High and Choctawhatchee High.

The study targeted vehicles 10 miles an hour over the posted speed limit within the school zones.

The study found the most potential violations on Racetrack Road, in front of Pryor Middle and Choctawhatchee High, with 3,073 violations in westbound traffic during a testing window from 6:35 a.m. to 1:55 p.m.

The locations with the next highest number of violations were westbound Hollywood Boulevard and southbound Wright Parkway, with 2,503 violations between the two locations.

How much would this cost?

According to Bage, a speed-camera program would not directly impact the city financially. However, having an officer review traffic citations would cost the police department.

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Bage added that the city could pay for this program based on a percentage of collected fines, which would be returned to the company that installed the cameras.

At a later date, Bage is expected to present a first reading of the proposed ordinance. After two readings, the city council can then vote on the measure.