Motorists in Osceola County school zones better start tapping those brakes. Starting February 24, a new School Zone Speed Safety Program will enforce the law—or at least warn of it. According to Osceola County, the program's first phase will focus on 10 community schools. Speedsters caught speeding during designated school hours and the 30 minutes before and after will receive warnings in the mail.
The grace period for these warnings is no small grace: 30 days before fines are imposed on March 26. Osceola County Commission Chairwoman Viviana Janer's commitment "to the safety of our children" shines through her efforts to initiate this program, which aims to transform school zones into strongholds of safety and vigilance. "This warning period allows drivers to adjust their behavior, helping us create safer streets with a stronger community focus on student safety," Janer stated in the county's news release.
Oversight and technology come courtesy of Verra Mobility, which spearheads the program with speed safety tech that will harness the power of 32-speed cameras around high-risk spots in the county. During this first stage, cameras at Bellalago Academy, Boggy Creek Elementary, and others will be operational. A month later, four more schools, such as BridgePrep Academy and Narcoossee Elementary School, will join the ranks for phase two of the program, which will also kick off with a similar warning period.
Drivers need to adjust their habits as $100 speeding fines are coming. These fines will be sent to the vehicle's registered owner, not just the driver. Paying attention to posted zones is now important to avoid financial penalties.
