Titusville, FL – On Monday night, the Titusville City Council approved Ordinance No. 16-2025, authorizing the implementation of a School Zone Speed Enforcement program utilizing automated speed detection systems. The ordinance passed on its second reading with a 3-2 vote.
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The program aims to enhance safety in school zones by capturing video and photographs of vehicles traveling 11 mph or more over the posted speed limit during school hours. Each violation will be reviewed by police staff, and if approved, a $100 civil citation will be issued and sent via certified mail to the registered owner. These citations will not result in points on the driver’s license, nor can insurance companies use them to increase rates.
Major Gonzalez, representing the police department, emphasized that the program is intended to change driver behavior and reduce speeds, ultimately lowering crashes and saving lives. He described the cameras as a “force multiplier,” given the limited number of officers available for consistent school zone patrols. Data presented showed a considerable percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by 11 mph or more in various school zones during school hours, supporting a finding of a “heightened safety risk” as required by state statute.
The council’s discussion touched upon several aspects and concerns:
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Accuracy and Reliability: Concerns were raised about potential inaccuracies of cameras, citing issues reported in other municipalities like Palm Bay. Major Gonzalez attributed some past issues elsewhere to specific vendors and rushed processes, stating their preferred vendor has a successful track record.
Enforcement Hours: While state statute allows enforcement 30 minutes before and after school sessions, the ordinance permits enforcement for the entirety of the regularly scheduled school session. Council members Muscoso and Stokel voiced a preference for limiting enforcement to peak drop-off and pick-up times. Major Gonzalez argued that children are present throughout the day and full-day enforcement is necessary for behavioral change.
Alternative Solutions: Suggestions included increased officer presence or the use of dynamic radar feedback signs. Major Gonzalez reiterated that staffing levels make consistent officer presence in all zones impractical.
Vendor Contract and Opt-Out: The importance of securing a contract with the vendor that allows the city to terminate for convenience was stressed by Vice Mayor Cole and Stan Johnston. Major Gonzalez confirmed they would seek such a clause, allowing termination with notice if the program doesn’t work for Titusville.
Pilot Program and Warnings: The concept of a pilot program with fewer schools was discussed. City staff explained that the state-mandated public awareness campaign, which requires issuing warning tickets for a minimum of 30 days before actual citations, could serve as a pilot phase. This warning period cannot begin until school is back in session.
Major Gonzalez addressed concerns about “heightened safety risk,” providing data for specific schools showing significant speeding violations during school hours. He also noted that school principals universally supported the program when surveyed.
The ordinance passed with a 3-2 vote:
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Voting For: Mayor Connors, Vice Mayor Cole, and Council Member Nelson.
Voting Against: Council Members Stokel and Muscoso.
Council Member Stokel expressed concern about the enforcement hours:
“I would not want it throughout the whole school day… if we keep that in there I will be voting no.”
Council Member Nelson supported full-day enforcement:
“I understand what you guys are saying but I think I agree with you… during the day you have kids out at recess, you have kids leaving, you have kids coming, so to me it’s equally important to have people obeying the speed limit during that period of time.”
Vice Mayor Cole emphasized the need for flexibility:
“I am completely in favor of this program; however, I want to make sure that we have the opportunity, if in fact it doesn’t work for us, that we have the opportunity to not use it or not use it in some locations.”
Palm Bay’s Experience Serves as Cautionary Tale
Titusville’s decision comes in the wake of Palm Bay’s recent suspension of its own school zone speed camera program. Palm Bay halted the program for the second time this school year due to persistent issues, including incorrect tickets being issued to drivers who were not speeding, tickets sent outside designated school zone hours, and even citations for violations in Miami-Dade County
Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina supported the concept’s goal of safer driving but agreed the pause was appropriate “given the recent inconsistencies in the accuracy of information.” He emphasized that initiatives protecting children must be implemented with the highest integrity and reliability.
Palm Bay contracted with RedSpeed Florida LLC for a five-year speed detection camera system. The program faced multiple glitches, including hundreds of inaccurate tickets linked to Miami-Dade being sent to local drivers. The city plans to continue working with the camera vendor to resolve the problems and may consider reinstating the program after necessary improvements are made.
Next Steps for Titusville
With the ordinance passed, the Titusville City Council will now focus on selecting a vendor and finalizing the contract terms, which may address details like a phased implementation approach. The implementation details will be brought back to the council at a future public hearing for approval.
In a related action, the council approved a separate motion to write a letter to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the county advocating for the designation of official school zones in areas where none currently exist, such as Sycamore Street and the area around Sculpture Charter School. This request stemmed from concerns raised about specific locations not covered by the proposed camera program due to the lack of official school zone status.
As Titusville moves forward with its School Zone Speed Enforcement program, the city aims to learn from neighboring municipalities’ experiences to ensure the program’s success and integrity.
