Fort Walton Beach reinstates school zone speed cameras to protect students, drivers risk $100 fines for speeding
Fort Walton Beach, Florida – The City of Fort Walton Beach is asking drivers to slow down and pay attention as the new school year begins in Okaloosa County. Photo Speed Enforcement will officially start again on Monday, August 11, 2025, in various school zones within the city limits. This is to keep youngsters safe as they go back to school.
Nine school zones have the enforcement system, which uses radar to identify vehicles that are going more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. A camera takes a picture of the vehicle and license plate if it goes over the speed limit. The Fort Walton Beach Police Department checks and confirms the information before giving the registered owner a $100 civil citation.
These automated systems are located near the following schools:
- Choctawhatchee High School (Racetrack Road)
- Pryor Middle School (Racetrack Road)
- Liza Jackson Preparatory School (Hospital Road)
- Bruner Middle School (Holmes Boulevard)
- Silver Sands School (Holmes Boulevard and Wright Parkway)
- Fort Walton Beach High School (Hollywood Boulevard and Wright Parkway)
- Edwins Elementary School (Hollywood Boulevard and Wright Parkway)
- Elliott Point Elementary School (Hughes Street and Ferry Road)
- Saint Mary Catholic School (Robinwood Drive)
The cameras work for 30 minutes before class starts, all day throughout school, and for 30 minutes after school ends. They aren’t used on weekends or holidays, although they are used during certain summer school sessions, like the one that took place from June 5 to July 1 of this year.
Read also: Monthly reminder: Locals invited to meet Fort Walton Beach City Manager Jason Davis this Thursday
RedSpeed USA helped bring the system to the city after a study of traffic speed in 2024 and a public hearing before the municipal council. Informational signage has been placed near all active school zones to alert drivers.
Violations do not add points to a driver’s license or raise their insurance rates. The fine must be paid by mail, phone, or online, unless the driver chooses to fight the ticket in court.
“This system is an effective tool to encourage compliance with speed limits, ultimately protecting students and pedestrians,” said Police Chief Robert Bage. “Photo enforcement ensures consistent and equitable speed enforcement every school day, regardless of police staffing levels. This technology encourages long-term behavior changes by reminding drivers that school zone speed limits are always enforced, creating a safer environment around our schools.”
Now that the school year just around the corner, officials advise drivers to pay attention to these warnings and be careful when driving near school zones. They claim the goal is simple: slow down to protect the youngest members of the community.
