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Crestview adopts school-zone speed camera ordinance; program to cover four school zones
Summary
City council adopted Ordinance 19 98 to authorize school‑zone speed detection systems at four Crestview schools and directed staff to implement the program; a related services contract later approved by the council authorizes vendor work on cameras and red‑light enforcement at one intersection.
Crestview City Council on May 12 adopted Ordinance 19 98, authorizing a school‑zone speed enforcement program that permits the use of speed detection systems in city school zones. The ordinance passed on second reading by a 5‑0 vote.
The ordinance designates school zones for automated speed detection at Davidson Middle School, Crestview High School, Northwood Elementary and Riverside Elementary and sets out enforcement procedures, evidence collection and annual reporting requirements. City staff said the changes follow recent Florida law changes that allow municipalities to operate speed detection systems in school zones.
Why it matters: Council members and staff said the cameras are intended to increase safety for students and staff by deterring speeding in school zones. Councilman Hayes said the measure advances child safety across the district; Mayor Pro Tem Capps moved the ordinance and Councilman Frost seconded the motion.
Council discussion and public comment: Councilman Bullock asked why Bob Sykes Elementary was not included; staff said traffic counts and location did not meet the city’s current threshold for camera placement. During the public comment period, resident Chad Bridal asked whether officers would still patrol school zones and whether the cameras’ enforcement window (11 mph tolerance referred to by a commenter) would reduce officer presence; a staff representative answered that the city does not intend to reduce police patrols and that cameras are meant to add a constant deterrent during school hours. Resident Fred Butts raised general concerns about how camera systems are activated and whether bus‑mounted systems would be feasible; staff replied that state statute does not currently authorize bus‑arm camera enforcement.
Related action: After the ordinance passed, council later approved a second amendment to the services agreement with the contracted camera vendor (recorded in the meeting as Nova Global / “Noble Global”) to implement the speed camera program and a red‑light camera at the P.J. Adams intersection. The services agreement amendment was approved by a separate 5‑0 vote.
Next steps: Staff will complete vendor permitting and implementation steps; a staff representative said the timeline depends on vendor permitting but indicated the city intends to be ready for school start dates if schedules allow.
