Fort Lauderdale launches new school zone safety program
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Fort Lauderdale is implementing a school zone safety program this school year to crack down on speeding.
Why it matters: Drivers will receive a violation notice for going more than 10 mph over the school zone speed limit during specified hours or more than 10 mph over the regular speed limit during the rest of the school day.
Zoom in: Cameras will be active around nine schools throughout the school day, with school zone speed limits enforced during these hours:
- Breakfast program: 30 minutes before through 30 minutes after breakfast starts.
- Arrival: 30 minutes before through 30 minutes after school starts.
- Dismissal: 30 minutes before through 30 minutes after school ends.
How it works: After receiving the notice, the city says the vehicle's registered owner can pay a $100 penalty or request a hearing within 30 days.
State of play: Beginning next Monday, school zone speed cameras will be active at the following schools:
- Cardinal Gibbons High School
- Croissant Park Elementary School
- Fort Lauderdale High School
- St. Thomas Aquinas High School
- Stranahan High School
- Sunland Park Academy
- Sunrise Middle School
- Thurgood Marshall Elementary School
- Virginia Shuman Young Elementary School
The big picture: This is part of a broader push to stop reckless driving around Broward County, especially during school hours.
Context: Broward Schools has added AI cameras to 1,300 school buses to crack down on drivers who illegally pass a bus while the flashing stop arm is extended for students to get on or off.
- Once the 30-day grace period ends on Sept. 9, violators will receive a $225 ticket.
- "We've experienced, just like other school districts, where people are violating the law, going around that stop arm, which puts our students at harm," Broward Superintendent Howard Hepburn tells Axios.
What's next: The city plans to add additional school zones in the near future.