Sunny Isles Beach police present first annual red light camera report; chief recommends program continue

The Sunny Isles Beach Police Department presented its first annual report on the city's red light camera enforcement program and recommended continuing the program.

The report covered the period July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, the police chief told the City Commission. The department said red light enforcement began Sept. 1, 2024, with six detectors at four intersections and that 21,194 notices of violation were issued during the reporting period. Of those, 12,871 were paid as notices, 7,618 were elevated to uniform traffic citations, 27 were contested hearings (25 were upheld and 2 dismissed), and total revenue collected for both notices and citations was $1,840,818.53, the chief said.

The report cited statutory reporting requirements under Florida Statute 316.0083 and recommended the Commission continue the enforcement program, saying the program contributes to traffic and pedestrian safety. The chief and staff also described the program's revenue flow: about $914,245 was remitted to the Florida Department of Revenue and the city retained $926,573.53 of the reported total.

Commissioners and staff asked several operational questions. One commissioner pressed staff about an apparent discrepancy of about 2,000 notices between the total issued and the sums of paid and elevated notices; the chief said the numbers in the summary are what the department is required to report and that once notices are elevated to uniform traffic citations the processing and final disposition are handled by the courts. The chief said the courts may suspend licenses and assess points for failures to appear or pay, but the city does not control court outcomes.

Commissioners also discussed geographic patterns in the violations. The department and deputy manager said eastbound Sunny Isles Boulevard accounted for a disproportionate share of notices, and staff said they forwarded data to the Florida Department of Transportation for a field re-study. The deputy manager and a commissioner suggested using the data to pursue FDOT improvements; the deputy manager said FDOT was re-examining the corridor and the city is awaiting any recommendations.

On expansion, the chief said staff is planning four additional camera detectors (covering two additional intersections) and expected installation could begin within about a month once permits and lane-closure approvals from Miami-Dade County and FDOT are secured. The chief told the commission the city’s retained revenue (about $126,000 as reported in the presentation) was before accounting for any staff or operating costs.

A member of the public, Vitali Falkovich, spoke in favor of cameras, saying they save lives and provide revenue for equipment and police services.

The chief’s written recommendation to continue the program was recorded in the meeting packet and presented to the Commission; no separate approval vote on continuation was recorded in the meeting minutes beyond holding the public hearing and receiving the report.

What’s next: staff will pursue permit and lane-closure approvals for the two additional intersections and FDOT will re-study the corridor where a single location produced a high share of notices. The department continues to report annually as required by Florida Statute 316.0083.