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Panama City activates Red Speed cameras in school zones; 30-day warning period underway
Summary
Panama City has activated automated Red Speed cameras in several school zones and began a 30-day warning period on Feb. 17; about 3,500 warning notices were issued during initial operations, and four schools remain pending additional signage and lights before full enforcement.
A presenter for Panama City said the city’s Red Speed automated photo-enforcement program is now active in several school zones and that a 30-day warning period began on Feb. 17 to give drivers time to adjust before civil violations are issued.
The program uses automated speed-enforcement cameras during designated school zone hours, the agency official said, and is intended to encourage drivers to slow down where students, families and school staff are present. The system operates only during active school-zone hours: it starts 30 minutes before school begins, continues through the school day and ends 30 minutes after dismissal.
The presenter said drivers who exceed the speed limit by more than 11 miles per hour during those active hours may receive a $100 civil violation. Each violation will be reviewed and verified by Panama City police officers, and the city said the citation will not add points to a driver’s license or affect insurance rates.
During the initial 30-day warning period, seven school zones had fully operational equipment and about 3,500 warning notices were issued to drivers traveling 11 miles per hour or more over the speed limit, the presenter said. Midway through that warning period the city learned four school zones were not yet fully equipped; those locations are Bay High School, Blue Sylmore Elementary, Northside Elementary and Holy Nativity Episcopal School. The agency official said the delay stemmed from the need for additional signage and flashing lights to ensure visibility and safety.
The official said once equipment is fully installed at the remaining schools the city will begin a new 30-day warning period covering all locations and will notify the public in advance before citations are issued. In the meantime, the city encouraged motorists who receive warnings to adjust their driving behavior and to watch for flashing school-zone signals.
For more information about school-zone safety and the Red Speed program, the city directed residents to panamacity.gov.
