School zone speed cameras activate Jan. 6

When students attending six Sarasota schools return following the holidays, they will do so more safely. Beginning Jan. 6, the Sarasota Police Department will implement its new School Speed Zone Safety Program when speed detection cameras and school zone speed cameras are activated.

The cameras will operate during school hours, activating 30 minutes before school begins and deactivating 30 minutes after school ends. They will not monitor traffic outside of these hours, on weekends or during holidays.

The program will include the following schools:

• Alta Vista Elementary School.
• Southside Elementary School.
• Tuttle Elementary School.
• Sarasota Military Academy.
• Sarasota High School.
• Cardinal Mooney High School.

A five-day study during 2024 found 17,445 vehicles exceeding the school zone speed limit on Fruitville Road at Cardinal Mooney High School. The study revealed 45,563 violations of 10 miles per hour or faster in school zones around 12 schools in the city, an overall daily average of 3,797. 

The cameras will capture images and license plates of vehicles exceeding the school zone speed limit by 10 miles per hour. After review by the SPD, a $100 citation will be issued to the registered owner of the vehicle who will have 30 days to pay the violation, submit an affidavit or request a hearing. Failure to do so will result in a uniform traffic citation.

Rather than fines, warnings will be issued during a 30-day grace period to allow drivers to adjust to the new program.