The North Port City Commission approved an agreement with Red Speed Florida LLC to install speed‑detection cameras in school zones and adopted a related city code ordinance on camera use after a prolonged public discussion about safety, timing and revenue. The contract vote passed 3–2 and the ordinance passed 4–1.

Police Captain Scott King told commissioners the proposal implements House Bill 6657 and is intended to improve safety in school zones. King described the penalty allocation in the bill and how revenues would be split: of a $100 civil penalty, $20 goes to the state Department of Revenue, Red Speed would receive $21 as its fee, the city would receive $39, $3 would go to Criminal Justice Training, $12 to the county school district and $5 toward police crossing guard recruitment and retention. King said violations are subject to multi‑stage verification and that a written notice goes to the registered owner within 30 days; a hearing officer will hear disputes.

Representing Red Speed, Jesse Plath explained the vendor’s field methodology and technology. “We actually have our — our engineers go and hang a radar unit and then calculate it for the period of time,” Plath said, describing a five‑day traffic study used to estimate violation volumes and site selection. Plath said cameras provide lane‑specific, high‑definition images and are certified annually by a third‑party lab.

Police Chief Garrison and several commissioners stressed safety. “If you are not violating the speed limit, meaning you're going less than 11 miles an hour over the speed limit, you're not going to get a fine. You have nothing to worry about,” Police Chief Garrison said during the discussion. Supporters pointed to evidence from other jurisdictions showing large reductions in violations after cameras were activated.

Opponents — including Commissioner Petro and the vice mayor during the contract vote — raised concerns about the program’s scope and timing. Several residents and commissioners questioned the vendor’s five‑day study, saying the figures shown included speeds recorded outside the reduced‑speed flashing hours and therefore overstated school‑time violations. Public commenters asked that initial enforcement be limited to posted school‑zone hours and that the city publish full cost and staffing estimates for processing citations and hearings.

Commission-level concerns also focused on local roadway changes. Multiple commissioners noted ongoing construction on Price Boulevard and the likelihood that detours and unfamiliar routing could confuse drivers. Commissioner Petro said the work could create a “snowball effect” of complaints and urged limiting enforcement to school‑zone hours or delaying deployment in some corridors until construction is complete.

The commission approved the Red Speed contract 3–2 (yes: Mayor Stokes, Commissioner Langdon, Commissioner Duval; no: Commissioner Petro, Vice Mayor Emery). The commission then adopted ordinance 2025‑19, which adds a city code section permitting school‑zone speed detection systems and designating a local hearing officer, on a 4–1 vote (no: Commissioner Petro).

Implementation steps set in the contract and presentation call for a public awareness campaign and a 30‑day warning period before citations are issued. Vendors and staff will install permanent, fixed cameras at selected sites and provide signage; Red Speed’s agreement includes installation and maintenance of required signage and flashers. The police and communications staff said the first month after activation will focus on education with written warnings before monetary penalties begin.

What’s next: with the contract and ordinance approved, staff will proceed with vendor site installations and the awareness campaign required by statute. Citizens and commissioners said they will monitor initial enforcement and the program’s effects on school‑zone safety and traffic flows.

Votes at the meeting: motion to approve the agreement with Red Speed (mover: Commissioner Langdon; second: Commissioner Duval) — passed 3–2. Motion to adopt ordinance 2025‑19 (motion on second reading) — passed 4–1.