The RedSpeed camera along Cochran Blvd. near Port Charlotte High School that records vehicles and license plates speeding in a school zone. Two residents were found in violation on Wednesday after this camera recorded their vehicles speeding in May.
PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER
MURDOCK — As a part of Charlotte County’s School Zone Speed Detection Program, cameras started recording vehicles speeding in school zones on Feb. 27.
Citations were implemented starting Apr. 1.
The county uses RedSpeed USA laser cameras to record vehicles and license plates in violation. A traffic enforcement officer collects and organizes information to send a vehicle’s owner a citation through the mail.
If someone disagrees with the citation, they can attend Special Magistrate hearings that occur on the first Wednesday of each month. Magistrate Rob Berntsson judges each case.
“The county does not need to prove who is driving the vehicle, only who the registry owner of the motor vehicle involved in a speeding violation,” Berntsson said.
Violations are given to vehicles that exceed 10 miles above the school zone speed limit. Flashing lights are not required to signal when a school zone is active.
“The appropriate signage required by the Florida Department of Transportation knowing that a speed photo is enforced is sufficient,” Berntsson said.
On Wednesday, Deputy William Weisspfenning Jr. presented evidence of vehicles caught speeding by RedSpeed cameras.
“The equipment undergoes daily diagnostic testing and calibrated by an independent third party,” Weisspfenning said.
Information that needs to be recorded for violation evidence includes:
Violation date, time and locationVehicle color, model and tagSpeed limit and recorded speedRecords that show the county sent a violation notice and public hearing information
Alleged violators are given copies of evidence against them, including a photo of the vehicle, speeding details, a photo of the tag and video of the vehicle.
Rob Berntsson watches a video a man took traveling westbound along Cochran Boulevard. The man, Maurcio Kenneth Diaz, said the road lacked proper notice of a camera. However, the evidence showed his vehicle traveling eastbound, and he was found in violation.
PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER
A woman who contested her violation said that machines should not be taking vehicle photos.
“That needs to be done by a human being,” Sona Steele-Dickerson said. “My husband was a hired deputy in Ohio for 21 years, and every day he shot laser cameras. It was calibrated that day and the machine was having issues.”
Steele-Dickerson was captured by the camera purportedly speeding while traveling eastbound along Cochran Boulevard at 1:41 p.m. on May 8. Port Charlotte High School’s speeding enforcement begins at 1:40 p.m.
The usual citation fine is $100. If someone requests a hearing but realizes they did violate the law during the meeting, they have to pay an extra $100 administrative fee.
If someone pleads not guilty during a hearing but is found in violation, they have to pay an extra $250 administrative fee.
Charlotte County Public Schools state cameras are posted near:
Lemon Bay High School, 2201 Placida Road, Englewood.Port Charlotte High School, 18200 Cochran Ave., Port Charlotte.Port Charlotte Middle School, 23000 Midway Blvd., Port Charlotte.L.A. Ainger Middle School, 245 Cougar Way, Rotonda West.Murdock Middle School, 17325 Mariner Way, Port Charlotte.Peace River Elementary, 4070 Beaver Lane, Port Charlotte.Neil Armstrong Elementary, 22100 Breezeswept Ave., Port Charlotte.Liberty Elementary, 370 Atwater St., Port Charlotte.Deep Creek Elementary, 26900 Harborview Road, Punta Gorda.
Cameras only operate on school days.
For more information about the School Zone Speed Detection Program, visit tinyurl.com/2s3dfau9