Hillsborough County Commissioners voted unanimously to begin drafting an ordinance that would expand the county’s school zone speed camera program.
Chair Ken Hagan presented the proposal during a Hillsborough County Commission meeting, asking the County Attorney’s Office to work with county staff, the Sheriff’s Office and other stakeholders on an amendment to Hillsborough’s existing school zone speed enforcement ordinance.
The action, requested by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, does not immediately authorize new cameras. The draft ordinance would still require a public hearing and a formal board vote before final approval.
Hagan credited former Commissioner Michael Owen with championing the original program, which the board unanimously established in 2023.
“Today is the first of three separate meetings, if we ultimately approve the item,” Hagan said.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Frank Losat told Commissioners the agency has continued monitoring the existing program alongside RedSpeed, the private vendor helping administer it.
Commissioner Joshua Wostal seconded Hagan’s motion and supported moving forward, while also raising concerns about lighting and visibility around some existing enforcement areas, including locations near Citrus Park Drive.
“There are some very confusing spots right there, but I’m truly supportive of the initiative,” Wostal said. “I really hope that people slow down through the school zones.”
The draft ordinance will return to Commissioners before the board schedules a public hearing and considers whether to approve the expansion.
The proposal comes as Tampa considers its own expansion of school zone speed cameras through a contract piggybacking on Hillsborough County’s agreement with RedSpeed.
Unlike Hillsborough County’s unanimous initial action, Tampa’s proposal has drawn concerns from Council members over privacy, surveillance, vendor oversight and how the city would spend revenue.
Tampa currently operates cameras at 12 schools. An ordinance advancing through the Tampa City Council would increase that number to 18, with the proposed locations identified through a speed study that recorded between 200 and 3,000 potential violations per day.
Only six schools from the city’s existing list would remain, meaning cameras would be introduced at 12 new schools overall.
Council members have asked staff to consider restricting the money to school-safety improvements, while also seeking assurances that RedSpeed would not share city data with Flock Safety.
Tampa’s ordinance is scheduled for a final public hearing and vote Thursday.