TAMPA, Fla. — Right now, we are taking a deeper dive into a critical issue that impacts our children’s safety – speeding in school zones.
Hillsborough and Pinellas County have become hotspots for reckless driving near our kids’ schools, and this isn’t just a matter of breaking the law, it’s a matter of life and death.
Here in the heart of Tampa Bay school zones are becoming racetracks.
During a recent crackdown in Hillsborough County a startling, 25,000 violations were handed out in three days.
More than 98% of vehicles were speeding during morning school hours when the limit was 20 mph.
St. Pete Police said they are noticing a similar trend. Officers told 10 Tampa Bay extra shields are patrolling the streets routinely to keep the children safe.
But these flashing lights are more than just a warning – they are a lifeline for our kids.
But soon there will be a new sheriff in town, speed cameras, that will capture the drivers’ speed along with information.
Under new legislation, any driver caught on camera speeding by more than 10 mph can be fined $100.
It’s a move gaining serious traction. Former Dade County Chief of Police Placido Diaz said it will help steer our community towards safer streets.
“You’ll find that 99.9% of your residents that receive a violation will not receive a second. The majority are going to either be commuters or just people passing through that commit the violations. Your residents will learn, and the behavior will curb,” Diaz said.
Many school districts in the Tampa Bay area will be getting these cameras installed. School leaders said they anticipate cameras to be in place by August.