LAKELAND, Fla. – Drivers who exceed the posted school-zone speed limit by more than 10 mph while school-zone flashing lights are active may soon receive a $100 civil citation in the mail, according to the Lakeland Police Department.
In a release, police said the School Zone Speed Safety Program will transition from issuing warnings to issuing citations beginning Aug. 11.
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Part of Lakeland’s Vision Zero initiative
Officials said the program launched earlier this year as part of Lakeland’s Vision Zero initiative, aimed at reducing traffic-related injuries and improving safety for:
- Students and school staff
- Pedestrians
- Motorists
The city said 14 automated speed enforcement cameras are positioned near eight school locations across Lakeland.
Warnings so far
Since the cameras were activated, the city said drivers caught going more than 10 mph over the school-zone limit during active school-zone hours have received warning notices.
Starting Aug. 11, those warnings will be replaced with civil citations.
How the camera enforcement works
According to police, the cameras:
- Only monitor traffic when the school-zone flashing lights are active
- Capture images when a vehicle is traveling more than 10 mph over the posted limit
- Have each potential violation reviewed and approved by the Lakeland Police Department before a citation is issued
If approved, officials said a $100 civil citation will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.
School zone camera locations
The department said the 14 cameras are located near these school entrances:
- Lincoln Academy — 10th Street
- Crystal Lake Elementary / Crystal Lake Middle School — North Crystal Lake Drive and South Crystal Lake Drive
- Southwest Middle School — Lincoln Avenue
- North Lakeland Elementary — W. Robson Street
- Lakeland High School — Hollingsworth Road
- Lakeland Highlands Middle School — Lake Miriam Drive
- Sleepy Hill Elementary — Sleepy Hill Road
- Dixieland Elementary, Southwest Elementary, and Southwest Middle School — Beacon Road
For more information about the safety program, residents are urged to visit lakelandpd.com.