Pembroke Park adopts school-zone speed-camera ordinance after debate on hours, warnings and signage

The Pembroke Park Town Commission adopted Ordinance 2025-0002 on second reading Thursday to authorize speed detection systems in school zones across the town.

The ordinance, which amends Chapter 22 (Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places), creates a new section authorizing placement and operation of speed detection systems in school zones, establishes a required public-awareness (warning) period and identifies allowable uses for any program revenue. Town staff and the town attorney told the commission that the ordinance tracks the state statute that authorizes broader hours of operation than the narrow span when school crossing lights are active.

Mayor Ashiah Mohammed opened public comment and then asked staff several questions about operational hours and enforcement. Town Manager Lynch and Town Attorney (Kim) explained that the state statute permits enforcement from the morning school-zone period through afternoon hours and that the legislative studies supporting the statute found safety benefits to longer enforcement windows. Town staff said the local program will include at least a 30-day public awareness/warning period before citations may be issued; commissioners were told that the ordinance language allows for that to be extended.

Commissioners pressed for clearer delineation of school-zone infrastructure — crosswalks, lights, reflective pavement markings and signage — and asked that the request-for-proposals (RFP) for vendors require strong signage and deterrent-focused systems rather than a primarily revenue-generating setup. Town staff said the RFP is already on the street and that one of the primary evaluation criteria is whether a vendor’s program emphasizes deterrence and robust delineation (signage/lighting) rather than revenue. Staff also said some program revenue is statutorily limited to crossing-guard recruitment and retention programs and other narrowly defined school-safety uses.

The commission approved the ordinance by roll call; the clerk recorded support from Commissioners Jacobs and Hodgkins and from Vice Mayor Eric Morissette and Acting Commissioner Kashem, and the motion carried.

Town staff said they will monitor collision and speed data after installation and return to the commission with results and recommendations on adjustments to hours or enforcement if the local data do not support the state’s deterrence rationale.

The ordinance takes the town into an implementation phase that includes an RFP, a public-awareness/warning period before citation enforcement, and follow-up reporting to the commission.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025-0002 (Speed Detection Systems in School Zones) — adopted on second reading. Recorded roll-call support by Commissioners Jacobs, Hodgkins, Vice Mayor Morissette and Acting Commissioner Kashem; motion carried.