To press the brakes on speeding vehicles in school zones, Osceola County is setting its sights on automated enforcement, partnering up with Verra Mobility to introduce a fleet of speed cameras aimed at nurturing a culture of safety on streets where children cross to and from school, as Osceola County announced.
The county is drilling down on reckless speeding with these new speed cameras planted at 32 strategic, high-risk locations near schools where the rubber will meet the road after a 30-day grace period, post-which speed demons will face a $100 penalty for exceeding the speed limit by 10 miles per hour during school hours warnings to kick in on January 7, 2025, and actual fines beginning to follow from February 6, 2025. Osceola County Commission Chair Viviana Janer underscored the tried-and-true track record of such technology, "Implementing speed cameras in school zones has been proven to reduce crashes and pedestrian-related injuries," she had said while outlining the community's collective responsibility for children's safety, per county's press release.
The county has laid out the mechanics of enforcement, whereby caught-on-camera license plates will be transmitted via secure video to law enforcement for verification before any fine is stamped and mailed. According to Osceola County's notification, the goal is not just to penalize but primarily to recalibrate driver behavior, with data showing that about 70% of initial violators have not reoffended after being cited.
