Manatee commissioners vote to end school zone camera program

Spectrum News 9 | March 4, 2025

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Manatee Board of County Commissioners has voted to discontinue the School Speed Zone Camera Program that was launched last year.

The program’s end takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Commissioners on Tuesday voted 5-2 to end the program.

It was initially approved by the board and was designed to improve school zone safety.

A total of 55,243 Notices of Violation have been issued by the vendor for the camera program, RedSpeed, according to a news release from the county.

So far, 22,292 drivers have paid the $100 fine. More than 4,051 violations are currently awaiting law enforcement review.

All citations issued through March 5 remain valid, the news release stated.

“We have the data,” said At-Large Commissioner Jason Bearden, pointing to the large number of violations – and violators. “Now, let’s take that data and give it to the sheriff’s department.”

Manatee County Public Safety Department continues to urge the community to use caution while traveling through school zones, according to Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske.