Slow down, or you might find a speeding ticket in your mailbox soon.
Alachua County commissioners voted last week to begin a public information campaign warning drivers that they may soon be fined for speeding in school zones as they begin to use speed detection systems to enforce speed limits near schools.
The county is backing up its decision using a study, conducted by a group called RedSpeed, that found more than 16,500 drivers exceeded posted speed limits by more than 10 miles per hour across 18 Alachua County school zones during the study that evaluated a 12-hour period in each zone.
The decision comes after a new state law gave municipal governments the ability to use such systems, including cameras, to enforce school zone speed limits. The county is embracing a $100 fine for those detected driving 11 miles per hour or more over the speed limit.
From the $100, $60 will go toward the detection systems themselves and other public safety initiatives, $20 will go to the state, $12 will be put toward school security initiatives or student transportation, $5 to crossing guard programs and $3 to the state’s Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund.
“Two years ago before this ever was passed, they were anticipating it being passed by the Legislature, and I spent almost an hour talking to the two vendors,” Commission Chair Mary Alford said. “I got sold on it based on all the statistics they showed me from the other states and the fact that it doesn’t take any money out of our pocket.”
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The county is required to hold a 30-day public information campaign, post signs indicating photo enforcement and consider traffic data to support the installation of speed detection systems.
The fines will go into effect July 1.
School zone violations
Traffic study recorded over a 12-hour period.
ARCHER COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 2,608
Violations detected: 351
ARCHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 1,297
Violations detected: 162
FORT CLARKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 5,713
Violations detected: 699
HAWTHORNE HIGH SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 622
Violations detected: 214
HIDDEN OAK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 13,695
Violations detected: 2,419
IDYLWILD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 12,214
Violations detected: 1,394
KANAPAHA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 8,918
Violations detected: 1,955
LAKE FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 1,842
Violations detected: 304
CHILES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 7,737
Violations detected: 2,363
MEADOWBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 7,311
Violations detected: 1,585
TERWILLIGER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 4,226
Violations detected: 91
NEWBERRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 1,260
Violations detected: 157
NEWBERRY HIGH SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 5,595
Violations detected: 664
OAKVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 4,157
Violations detected: 281
SHELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 14,292
Violations detected: 1,794
WILES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Vehicle count: 8,773
Violations detected: 2,251