SARASOTA LOOKS TO PUMP THE BRAKES ON SPEEDING DRIVERS IN SCHOOL ZONES
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — A study conducted earlier this year using speed detection cameras found speeding in school zones was happening daily.
In an effort to cut down on the issue, Sarasota city commissioners showed unanimous support in moving forward with plans to bring the speed detection technology to the area for good. An ordinance will be drafted and brought before the commission at a later date.
The technology is similar to red light cameras. It can identify cars traveling more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit. Under House Bill 657, which aims to protect students going to and from school, those drivers in violation would face a $100 fine. The money would be split between the state, city, school district, and more.
“A lot of people think, ‘I can speed, nobody sees me’ and they don’t think of the consequences and people could really get hurt,” Aurora Scarberry, a mother of four, said.
Officer Jason Frank with Sarasota Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit believes the technology will be a great tool to help keep kids safe.
“With the limited number of officers that we have in the city to actively patrol school zones on a daily basis, this is just one more step in the ability to educate drivers and remind them to slow down. We want people to pay attention to the street signs and the flashing lights and the paint on the ground and the crossing guards wearing the yellow reflective vests and the parents standing on the corner and the kids riding their bikes. We want drivers to be cognizant of their surroundings,” Officer Frank said.
The study conducted earlier this year found six schools within city limits had more than 100 violators a day.
The three schools that saw the most violations in speed within school zones were Cardinal Mooney High School, Southside Elementary School, and Tuttle Elementary School.
Within five days, the study found more than 17,000 drivers in violation, traveling more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit.
Once the city attorney prepares an ordinance for the speed zone detection system, it will go before the commission for approval.
At that point, city leaders will determine the time of enforcement and other details. Under state law, the cameras can only operate on school days, beginning 30 minutes before and ending 30 minutes after school. However, city leaders indicated during a meeting Monday that the time window could be shortened if they so choose.
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2024-07-03T23:03:38Z dg43tfdfdgfd
