Florida School Zone Cameras Ticket Drivers Without Flashing Beacons, Zero Appeals Succeed

Florida drivers are facing a wave of frustration and fines from school zone speed cameras, discovering a harsh reality: tickets are valid even when the warning beacons aren’t flashing. Despite signs stating “20 mph when flashing,” state law allows citations regardless of beacon status, leading to hundreds of thousands of tickets and zero successful appeals in Hillsborough County this year.

Florida School Zone Camera Law Creates Confusion and Revenue

The core of the conflict lies in the signage versus the statute. Drivers like Joe Weaver, ticketed for going 38 mph in what he believed was a 40 mph zone because the sign wasn’t flashing, are shocked to learn the flashing beacons are effectively decorative under current Florida law (Florida Statute 316.1895). “I got a raw deal,” Weaver told WPTV in September 2024. His case is far from isolated; the specific sign that ticketed him lacked any flashing capability, highlighting the disconnect.

Magistrate Dr. Tom Santarlas, who oversees speed zone camera appeals in Hillsborough County, sympathizes but is bound by the law. “I don’t like this law,” Santarlas stated. “There are times when the legislature falls short of its goal when enacting law; this is one of those times.” His court has seen 46 contested tickets in 2024 alone, dismissing none. Contesting carries an additional financial burden, as Karen Bowman discovered when she paid $75 to appeal her $100 ticket for driving 33 mph in a non-flashing zone, only to lose.

Vendor Profits Soar as Driver Appeals Fail Statewide

The primary beneficiary of this system appears to be the camera vendors. RedSpeed, operating cameras in 35 Florida jurisdictions, has issued nearly 500,000 tickets generating close to $32 million in revenue in less than a year, according to WPTV investigations. David De La Espriella, a RedSpeed client relations director, defended the program: “I think it’s an excellent law.” Statewide data shows fewer than 300 of those half-million citations have been dismissed.

The requirement to slow down in active school zones is unequivocally vital for child safety. However, the enforcement mechanism – ticketing drivers based solely on time schedules, irrespective of whether the visual warning beacons are operational or illuminated – is fueling accusations of revenue generation over safety. Drivers feel misled by signs implying flashing lights trigger enforcement, facing near-zero success in challenging tickets despite apparent signage issues.

Must Know

• Can I get a Florida school zone camera ticket if the lights aren’t flashing? Yes. Florida law (316.1895) allows automated enforcement during designated school zone hours regardless of whether the “20 mph when flashing” beacons are illuminated or functioning. The signs indicate the reduced speed limit applies only when flashing, but the enforceable period is defined by the posted schedule.
• How successful are appeals against Florida school zone camera tickets? Appeal success rates are extremely low. In Hillsborough County, 46 appeals were heard in 2024 with zero dismissals. Statewide data from RedSpeed cited by WPTV shows fewer than 300 dismissals out of nearly 500,000 tickets issued.
• What happens if I contest a Florida school zone camera ticket? Contesting a ticket typically involves an additional fee (e.g., $75 in the case cited by WPTV) on top of the base fine ($100). If the appeal is unsuccessful, you must pay both the fine and the appeal fee.
• How much revenue do Florida school zone cameras generate? RedSpeed cameras operating in 35 Florida jurisdictions generated nearly $32 million in revenue from close to 500,000 tickets in less than one year, as reported by WPTV in late 2023/early 2024.
• Who operates the school zone speed cameras in Florida? Companies like RedSpeed Florida contract with counties and municipalities to install, operate, and process violations from school zone speed cameras, receiving a portion of the revenue collected.

The $32 million generated by Florida school zone cameras underscores a system where driver appeals fail universally and safety signage appears decoupled from enforcement reality, demanding legislative review to align practice with perceived intent. Check your local school zone times diligently.