St. Cloud special magistrate upholds multiple school‑zone speed‑camera citations; fines and payment schedules set

Special Magistrate Drew Smith upheld about 10 school‑zone speed‑camera citations at a City of St. Cloud hearing, ordering the standard $100 citation plus $89.49 in administrative costs for each case and setting payment deadlines.

The rulings affect drivers captured by automated school‑zone cameras in multiple locations on Michigan Avenue, Buettinger Avenue and other streets. In several cases in which the defendant or a representative appeared, Smith allowed extended payment time; in other cases he ordered payment within 30 days.

The decisions came after testimony from St. Cloud Police Department traffic officers who presented photos, video, camera logs and radar calibration certificates. Captain Ed Matteo, Sergeant Collier and other traffic unit officers described each capture, the recorded speed and the active school‑zone signal at the time of the violation. Investigator Hostler testified that the camera captured a vehicle traveling 28 miles per hour in a 15‑mph school zone in one case and provided a photographic and video record.

Drew Smith, the hearing officer, explained the process and the standard of review, then issued rulings after hearing arguments and reviewing the evidence. “I will find in favor of the city,”…