How do Florida school-zone speed cameras really work? Here’s what to know
Miami Herald | By Douglas Hanks | March 5, 2026
Speed cameras near Florida schools can issue $100 violations whether or not yellow warning lights are flashing — a rule that has caught many drivers off guard. Plus, the cameras operate throughout the school day, not just during drop-off and pick-up windows. They were generating more than $2 million a month in violations in Miami-Dade last summer.
Here are key takeaways:
- Street signs listing a school’s start and end times — not flashing yellow lights — define Florida school zones. Many schools don’t even have the optional yellow flashers.
- Most camera-generated violations happen outside the pick-up and drop-off windows, when yellow lights aren’t flashing and drivers assume they’re in the clear. But the cameras can operate all day, catching speeders during any school hours.
- Under Florida law, a driver can only be ticketed by the cameras for exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph.
- Chicago-based RedSpeed operates the cameras in Miami-Dade and keeps about $20 of every $100 violation.
- Ignoring a $100 camera violation can escalate to a traffic citation and eventually, a suspended license. Mark Gold, founder of the Ticket Clinic, said his firm generally advises drivers to just pay rather than fight the fine.
