SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. – Drivers in South Miami could face a ticket if they speed in a school zone thanks to a new camera system.
The new cameras are located at Ludlam Road and Sunset Drive in South Miami outside Ludlam Elementary School.
The state legislature gave the system the green light.
It will be similar to the red light camera system and focuses on speeders in school zones.
Randy Sippen, who has lived across from Ludlam Elementary for 30 years, said he’s hoping the new cameras will send a message.
“The speeding is pretty crazy during school hours,” he said. “If they are speeding they deserve to get a ticket.”
The warning signs are up outside Ludlam Elementary and the cameras are ready for the start of school next week.
Officers on school zone duty are getting a whole lot of help.
If you’re going 10 miles an hour over the posted school zone speed limit, expect something in the mail.
“It is a $100 civil penalty,” said South Miami police Chief Reo Hatfield III. “It is not considered a moving violation and will not affect a driver’s insurance. If an officer wrote you that ticket, you’d actually be paying hundreds of dollars more in a uniform traffic citation.”
Officials in South Miami are hoping to have five cameras up and running outside Ludlam Elementary, Somerset Academy, South Miami K-8 and Middle School, and Epiphany Catholic School.
Over 200 locations have been identified in unincorporated Miami-Dade County.
Several cities and the county are partnering with a private company called RedSpeed USA to implement the system.
A study showed 64% of drivers speed though a school zone, even with officers present.
South Miami is expected to get $40 per ticket, and it’s expected to raise thousands of dollars.
Not everyone was on board when the South Miami City Commission voted on the camera system.
“I’ve been up here almost 12 years, never heard a complaint about people speeding through school zones,” said South Miami Commissioner Josh Liebman. “I’m not looking for a tax grab.”
Added Commissioner Lisa Bonich: “The reality is this we are constantly surveilled more and more and more in a place in that has zero complaints as far as I know.”
The city of South Miami give violators a 30-day grace period as everyone gets used to the system.