Leesburg passes ordinance to enact speed cameras in school zones
BY SASHA TEMAN
On Monday night, city commissioners in Leesburg passed an ordinance that would enact a new speed camera system in various school zones before the start of the school year.
Leesburg Mayor Jimmy Burry says it all boils down to making his city’s school zones safer come Aug. 12.
The game plan is to have the cameras all set up before the first day of school in the seven school zones that met the city’s criteria.
It’s a new spin on safety that various cities in Florida have decided to take on to protect students and faculty near school zones.
In Leesburg, Burry hopes the new speed camera system will pave the way for a safer environment.
“You’re not supposed to be speeding in those areas. If you’re speeding in those areas, people are going to get tickets,” says Burry.
According to chief of police, Joe Iozzi, this new program will begin as a 30-day trial period when fines will not be administered.
But for those caught violating the speed limit, they will receive a notice through the mail.
Iozzi adds that after this 30-day period is over, anyone driving 10 mph over the speed limit when the school zone is active will get a $100 fine.
“Bottom line, if you’re going roughly 11 miles an hour over that school’s speed, the car owner is going to get a ticket in the mail for $100,” adds Burry.
Iozzi warns drivers that these fines can be administered throughout the entire day, even when it’s not during regular school hours.
He says the reason why is to protect students even when they are late to school or when they are leaving early.
When the school zone is not active, drivers must still be careful because they could face that same $100 fine if they’re driving 10 mph over the normal speed limit.
Iozzi adds that these fines are civil infractions that will not assess points on drivers’ licenses unless they fail to take care of the ticket within 30 days of receiving one.
This initiative has been commanded by parents in the area, like James Hobgood, who says he has children who attend Lake County schools in Leesburg.
“I’ve got a couple kids that go too. It’s on a main highway, that are going to one of Leesburg’s elementary here. It’s a big deal to keep them safe,” says Hobgood.
He adds that one of his friends was badly injured after getting hit by a car in a school zone in broad daylight.
Hobgood explains that at the time of the incident, his friend was “crossing the road with the school’s traffic officer with the crossing guard.”
Hobgood says he’s looking forward to having these extra set of eyes in school zones.
Leesburg stated it will unveil the cameras for the public to see on Aug. 8, just four days before the start of the school year.
The seven schools that will implement these speed camera systems are:
- Leesburg Elementary School
- Oak Park Middle School
- Carver Middle School
- Beverly Shores Elementary School
- Leesburg High School
- St. Paul’s Catholic School
- Lake Montessori