The City of Fort Walton Beach will begin using automated cameras to enforce speed limits in school zones starting April 1, implementing a program unanimously approved by the City Council in January.

• The city is partnering with RedSpeed USA to install the photo enforcement system at eight schools throughout Fort Walton Beach, including Choctawhatchee High School, Fort Walton Beach High School, Silver Sands School and Saint Mary Catholic School.

Camera systems and informational signs have already been installed at the selected locations, which were chosen following a 2024 traffic study that identified these areas as having more than 200 speeding violations per day.

“This system is an effective tool to encourage compliance with speed limits, ultimately protecting students and pedestrians,” said Police Chief Robert Bage. “Photo enforcement ensures consistent and equitable speed enforcement every school day, regardless of police staffing levels.”

Unlike traditional school zone enforcement that operates only during arrival and dismissal times, the cameras will monitor speeds throughout the entire school day. The enforcement system will be active 30 minutes before school starts and 30 minutes after school dismissal. It will not operate on weekends, holidays, summer break, or other times when school is not in session.

• During school zone hours when beacons are flashing, tickets will be issued at 26 mph in 15 mph zones and 36 mph in 25 mph zones. Outside beacon times but during school hours, citations will be based on the regular posted speed limit plus 11 mph.

The program will begin with a mandatory 30-day warning period starting April 1. During this time, speeders will receive warning notices rather than citations, as part of an effort to educate drivers about the new enforcement system.

“We would hope that we don’t write the first speeding ticket,” Bage said at the January council meeting. “I would hope that during the warning period and the educational period, when people know that there’s a repercussion for speeding through the school zones, that nobody speeds through a school.”

Violations will result in a $100 civil citation issued to the registered owner of the vehicle. Officials emphasized that the citations are civil infractions that do not result in driver’s license points or impact insurance rates.

• Revenue from citations will be divided, with $39 going to the city, $21 to RedSpeed, $12 to the school board, $5 to crossing guard programs, $3 for law enforcement training, and $20 to state general revenue.

City Councilman Bryce Jeter voiced strong support for all-day enforcement during the January meeting, citing varied student schedules.

“100% [this] needs to be all day long because if you volunteer at a school or… your daughter goes late, checks out early…between doctor’s appointments, mom’s volunteering,” Jeter said. “I’ve personally seen cars speed during the day and there’s a kid crossing the road at 11 o’clock.”

The city’s contract with RedSpeed includes provisions allowing the City of Fort Walton Beach to terminate the program with notice and without equipment removal fees. Police maintain final approval authority over all citations.

Similar programs in other states have shown promising results. According to research presented by Bage, Maryland saw a 39% decrease in speeding violations after implementing full-day enforcement, while Washington D.C. reported a 30% drop in injury crashes near cameras after one year.

Schools

Camera systems and informational signage have been installed in the following schools:

• Choctawhatchee High School (Racetrack Road)
• Liza Jackson Preparatory School (Hospital Road)
• Bruner Middle School (Holmes Boulevard)
• Silver Sands School (Holmes Boulevard and Wright Parkway)
• Fort Walton Beach High School (Hollywood Boulevard and Wright Parkway)
• Edwins Elementary School (Hollywood Boulevard)
• Saint Mary Catholic School (Robinwood Drive)
• Elliot Point Elementary School (Hughes Street and Ferry Road)
• Pryor Middle School (Racetrack Road)

Note: This story has been updated to clarify the start and end times, and days it would not be active.