by James Coulter
Slow down! Especially if you’re in a school zone! Because red light cameras and speed limit detection systems may be coming soon.
At their regular meeting on Tues. Nov. 5, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance that would authorize red light cameras, traffic infraction detectors, and school zone speed limit detection systems in city school zones.
“The City Commission is aware that violations of traffic laws, including the running of red lights and speeding within school zones within the City limits creates a hazard to the citizens of and visitors to the City of Lake Wales,” Chris Velasquez, Chief of Police, wrote in a city memo.
As such, the City is considering the “implementation and administration of traffic citations by municipalities for traffic infractions relating to traffic control devices such as red-light cameras and school zone speed limit detection systems” through The Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Program.
If implemented, these systems would monitor traffic at school zones within the city limits, especially during school hours, to detect speed limit violations.
If a potential infraction is detected by these systems, an officer would review the incident to determine if a legit violation has occurred, in which case a traffic citation would be mailed to the perpetrator’s address.
In Florida, the cost of speeding in a school zone is $50 for 1 to 9 MPH over the limit, and $200 for 10 to 14 MPH over the limit.
At a city workshop session on Wed. Oct. 30, Ed Palmer, Patrol Commander Lieutenant at the Lake Wales Police Department, offered a presentation about the proposed system. He presented statistics which revealed large numbers of speeding violations at local school zones.
A school zone study from Sep. 2023 revealed that Lake Wales High School experienced 2,036 speed limit violations, while Hillcrest Elementary experienced 329 and McLaughlin Middle School experienced 271.
At the workshop, Commissioner Carol Gillespie raised concerns about implementation of the proposed systems. She claimed these systems could potentially place a financial burden on residents through increased citations.
One resident, Frank Lum, spoke during the public hearing at the regular meeting. While he understood the need to address speeding violations, he felt the implementation of such a proposed system should be done with caution and care.
“I am sitting on the fence,” Lum said. “This is something we should not rush into, and make sure that all the I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed…I want to urge extra caution and thought behind the ordinance.”
Commissioner Gillespie inquired whether the city would need to amend its budget to figure out the expenditures. City Manager James Slaton replied that the ordinance was to authorize the program, and that the decision was legislative, not financial. As such, there would be no fiscal impact on the city until it decides to move forward with implementing the system.
City commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of the ordinance. The second reading would be hosted at a future city commission meeting.
