Village staff presented the first annual report for Wellington’s school zone speed camera program at the Oct. 14 council meeting, describing early program statistics, enforcement timing and next steps in the statutory process.

Nicole Coates, Wellington’s emergency management and public safety director, said the program began with outreach in July 2025, a 30-day warning period from Aug. 11–Sept. 12, and the start of notice-of-violation mailings on Sept. 15. For the statutorily required reporting period of Sept. 15–30, staff reported 2,073 notices of violation (NOVs) issued, totaling $207,300 in alleged fines. As of the meeting, 213 of those NOVs had been paid and 11 NOVs had been contested; contested cases will have local hearings beginning Nov. 6. No NOVs had yet been upheld, dismissed, or converted to uniform traffic citations (UTCs) because the program is in its early phase.

Coates and vendor staff described program mechanics and statutory requirements. She cited section 316.0776 of the Florida Statutes (as the implementing statute referenced in the presentation) requiring municipalities operating school zone speed detection systems to file an annual report with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and to present the report to the governing body. Coates said revenue disbursement begins soon and that statute-contract allocations mean the village receives only a portion of collected funds; the state Department of Revenue, Palm Beach County School District, the sheriff’s office and the vendor also receive defined shares. Coates said the vendor provided cameras at no cost to the village under the agreement.

Staff presented examples of excessive speeds captured by the system (for example, vehicles recorded at 75 mph in a 45 mph zone, 68 mph in a 20 mph school zone and an 85 mph capture near Panther Run Elementary). Council members and staff discussed clarifications residents had raised in public inquiries—specifically when the “speed limit photo enforced” signage applies and how posted speed limits and flashing school-zone lights interact. Staff confirmed that the flashing lights denote the reduced school-zone speed (for example, 20 mph) and that when the lights are not flashing the posted normal speed limit applies.

Coates described the statutory 30-day payment period for NOVs and an additional grace period before conversion to UTC. She said disbursements to the village would begin the next statutory disbursement date and that statutory constraints limit how funds may be used: administering the detection system and other public-safety initiatives. Staff noted the sheriff’s office will receive a portion to support crossing-guard and related programs.

Council members asked for further location details for specific cameras; staff offered to confirm exact camera siting (for example, the Wellington High School camera location relative to the crosswalk). PBSO (Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office) has access to program data for targeted enforcement, staff said. The council requested continued public communication on enforcement hours and signage so residents better understand when the reduced school-zone speed is in effect.

No formal action was taken; the report was heard and staff will file the required materials and proceed with statutory processes for contested NOVs and future annual reporting.