A growing number of local governments are investing in speed cameras in hopes of making school zones safer.Orlando City Council voted unanimously on Monday to approve its contract with a company that will install more than two dozen of them across Orange County school zones. If you are driving too fast in a school zone, the camera light will flash and you can expect a $100 ticket in the mail. As the city of Orlando increased the number of red light cameras at intersections, the council voted Monday to install the speed zone detection cameras in 26 school zones as well. “People react much better when they know they’re being watched,” said Raymond Rodriguez, Orlando Stops operations manager. “Our goal is to have people slow down whenever they are in a school zone.”Mills Avenue, next to Boone High School and South Bumby Avenue by Lake Como K-8 school, are two of the planned locations for the new speed cameras.”Think of your own kids, think of your friend’s kids, this is a great program and I’m sure people will behave,” Rodriguez said.The city is entering a five-year contract with Verra Mobility. The estimated cost is $873,600, but city staff have pointed out that the cost will be offset by the $100 tickets for drivers who do not slow down.”If the vehicle is going 10 miles over the speed limit and camera will react and an officer will review that to see if a violation actually occurred,” Rodriguez said. Orange County School Board member and parent Stephanie Vanos supports the program. “We are doing whatever we can to keep our kids safe, and this is just one tool in the toolkit to help it be safer for our children,” Vanos said. “So again, we’ll see how it goes, and just encourage everyone to slow down when you see those flashing lights and when you’re around our schools.”Orlando’s goal is to have all 26 new speed detection cameras in school zones operating by the start of the next academic year, in August 2026.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —

A growing number of local governments are investing in speed cameras in hopes of making school zones safer.

Orlando City Council voted unanimously on Monday to approve its contract with a company that will install more than two dozen of them across Orange County school zones.

If you are driving too fast in a school zone, the camera light will flash and you can expect a $100 ticket in the mail.

As the city of Orlando increased the number of red light cameras at intersections, the council voted Monday to install the speed zone detection cameras in 26 school zones as well.

“People react much better when they know they’re being watched,” said Raymond Rodriguez, Orlando Stops operations manager. “Our goal is to have people slow down whenever they are in a school zone.”

Mills Avenue, next to Boone High School and South Bumby Avenue by Lake Como K-8 school, are two of the planned locations for the new speed cameras.

“Think of your own kids, think of your friend’s kids, this is a great program and I’m sure people will behave,” Rodriguez said.

The city is entering a five-year contract with Verra Mobility. The estimated cost is $873,600, but city staff have pointed out that the cost will be offset by the $100 tickets for drivers who do not slow down.

“If the vehicle is going 10 miles over the speed limit and camera will react and an officer will review that to see if a violation actually occurred,” Rodriguez said.

Orange County School Board member and parent Stephanie Vanos supports the program.

“We are doing whatever we can to keep our kids safe, and this is just one tool in the toolkit to help it be safer for our children,” Vanos said. “So again, we’ll see how it goes, and just encourage everyone to slow down when you see those flashing lights and when you’re around our schools.”

Orlando’s goal is to have all 26 new speed detection cameras in school zones operating by the start of the next academic year, in August 2026.