NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – As students return to class, drivers in Neptune Beach are being reminded to slow down or pay the price.
The Neptune Beach Police Chief, Mike Key, told News4JAX’s reporter Briana Brownlee that the newly activated speed cameras in school zones are already making an impact.
The cameras, which went live in April, are located near Beaches Chapel School and Neptune Beach Elementary. Officials say the goal is simple: keep children safe.
“We saw a 92 percent reduction of speeding violations in that window when we rolled those things out,” Chief Key said.
The system is automated. If a vehicle is caught going more than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit in a school zone, the registered driver receives a $100 citation by mail.
The notice includes a photo of the car’s license plate and the recorded speed. No points are added to the driver’s license, but Key said the penalties shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“Pay attention, pay attention to the roadway, put your phone down, put your makeup on at the house. Don’t eat while you are driving,” Key said.
While the reminders may sound like common sense, he said many drivers are still failing to follow basic safety rules.
“If you speed through a school zone, we are going to ticket you. It’s just that simple,” Key said. “We are going to send you a fine in the mail, you’re going to get cited.”
Key emphasized that while the cameras are not a cure-all, they are a valuable tool in changing driver behavior, especially in areas where children walk or bike to school.
And for those looking for a way to beat the system?
“All the drivers out there, I’ll give them a hack right now,” he said. “If you don’t want to get cited, there is a way to beat the school zone cameras: don’t speed. Just don’t speed.”
Additional cameras are expected to be installed at Fletcher High School in the future.
