The City of Sunrise Commission on Sept. 15 adopted an ordinance authorizing automated speed‑detection systems in school zones by a 5‑0 vote, after Sunrise police presented data showing widespread speeding during school drop‑off and pickup hours.

Police Chief Daniel J. Ransom told the commission the department recorded an “upward trend” in speeding in the opening week of the school year and that “in just one 5‑day school week, the study captured 27,000 vehicles exceeding the posted school speed limit.” He said some vehicles were clocked “exceeding 45 miles per hour in a 15 mile per hour zone.” The ordinance implements state law requirements and designates particular school zone locations for heightened enforcement.

The commission approved the ordinance after a lengthy public discussion about rollout, public notice and enforcement. Chief Ransom said the goal is behavior change rather than revenue generation and described the program as a force multiplier for law enforcement: historically, he said, camera-based programs reduce violators by about 90 percent within months of deployment. He also told the commission that the city will run an information campaign when cameras are installed and that the vendor contract will be brought back to the commission for approval.

Commissioners and staff discussed operational details: the state requires a 30‑day warning period before civil notices begin, but some commissioners asked the city to extend public outreach beyond 30 days. Commissioners also asked how cameras and reviewing officers would avoid duplicate enforcement if an officer stops a driver in the field and the camera flags the same driver later; staff said that field officers would generally avoid charging the same speed violation and that the vendor and city review process includes human verification.

City staff and police laid out how the $100 civil penalty will be distributed under state rules: roughly $20 to the state general fund, $12 to the school district, $5 to crossing guard recruitment/retention programs, $3 to the FDLE Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund, and the balance to the city and the vendor per the contract model. Chief Ransom said the vendor stores camera data and that retention policies, access controls and audit logs will be part of the vendor agreement.

Commissioners directed staff to return with a vendor agreement and an outreach plan; the chief said selected locations would be programmed to activate during the legally defined school‑zone times and could be later reprogrammed if the commission decided to expand enforcement to broader hours.

The ordinance passage was recorded as: motion by Commissioner Joseph Scudo, second by Deputy Mayor Neil Kirch; vote 5‑0.

What happens next: staff will solicit or bring forward a vendor agreement for commission approval and begin public information efforts that will include school officials, parent organizations, HOAs and other neighborhood groups. The commission asked for extra outreach beyond the 30‑day warning period required by state law.

Why it matters: Sunrise police said the data show systemic speeding at times when children travel to and from school. Commissioners framed the measure as aimed at reducing preventable injuries and deaths by changing driver behavior, not as a revenue source.