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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.<\/p>\n
PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER<\/p>\n
MURDOCK \u2014 As a part of Charlotte County\u2019s School Zone Speed Detection Program<\/a>, cameras started recording vehicles speeding in school zones on Feb. 27.<\/p>\n Citations were implemented starting Apr. 1.<\/p>\n The county uses RedSpeed USA<\/a> laser cameras to record vehicles and license plates in violation. A traffic enforcement officer collects and organizes information to send a vehicle\u2019s owner a citation through the mail.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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,\u201d Berntsson said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe appropriate signage required by the Florida Department of Transportation knowing that a speed photo is enforced is sufficient,\u201d Berntsson said.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Deputy William Weisspfenning Jr. presented evidence of vehicles caught speeding by RedSpeed cameras.<\/p>\n \u201cThe equipment undergoes daily diagnostic testing and calibrated by an independent third party,\u201d Weisspfenning said.<\/p>\n Information that needs to be recorded for violation evidence includes:<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Rob Berntsson watches a video a man took traveling westbound along Cochran Boulevard. The man,\u00a0Maurcio 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.<\/p>\n PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER<\/p>\n A woman who contested her violation said that machines should not be taking vehicle photos.<\/p>\n \u201cThat needs to be done by a human being,\u201d Sona Steele-Dickerson said. \u201cMy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s speeding enforcement begins at 1:40 p.m.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n If someone pleads not guilty during a hearing but is found in violation, they have to pay an extra $250 administrative fee.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n