Manatee County ended its school zone camera program. Do you still have to pay the fine?
Even though Manatee County ended its school zone speed camera program, drivers with outstanding tickets must still pay them, county officials say.
Following the program’s end, some residents have taken to social media to ask whether they still need to pay the $100 fines.
“So if we already got a ticket do we have to pay it?” one person asked in a popular Bradenton-based Facebook group.
“Send my money back,” another person wrote in the group.
Some residents criticized the program, calling it a money grab and arguing that drivers were being fined throughout the school day, even when students were not walking along the street.
Since its implementation in November, the program generated more than 55,000 tickets totaling over $5.5 million in fines, the Bradenton Herald previously reported. As of March 4, less than half of the violations had been paid, according to a news release.
But Manatee County officials said any citations issued before the program ended remain valid.
“Drivers who received notices of violation are still required to pay, or they may contest the ticket,” Bill Logan, a spokesperson for Manatee County Government, told the Bradenton Herald.
Drivers who believe they were cited in error can request a hearing or submit an affidavit if they were not driving the vehicle, if the vehicle was stolen or if they were already issued a uniform traffic citation for the same violation.
Failure to take action within 30 days may result in additional penalties, including the issuance of a uniform traffic citation.
Violations can be paid online, by phone or by mail. Instructions are included on the ticket, and additional details are available on the county’s website at www.MyManatee.org.
Drivers with questions can call 1-888-213-0715 and select option 2 to speak with a customer service representative, according to the website.
Manatee school zone speeding fines must be paid
The Manatee County Commission voted on March 4 to end the program, which officially ceased operation at 12:01 a.m. on March 6. The school zone speed cameras, operated in partnership with Maryland-based company RedSpeed, automatically flagged vehicles traveling at least 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. A Manatee County Sheriff’s Office traffic infraction enforcement officer reviewed each violation before a citation was issued.
The commission ultimately voted 5-2 to discontinue the program, citing concerns over fairness and enforcement. Commissioners Mike Rahn and Tal Siddique voted against ending it.
While Manatee County has discontinued its school zone speed cameras, the City of Bradenton’s school speed camera program remains active.
Bradenton’s school zone cameras continue to operate at 10 locations, including Prine Elementary, Sugg Middle and Manatee High School. The city has not announced any plans to modify its program, and tickets will still be issued to drivers exceeding school zone speed limits.
For more information on Bradenton’s speed camera program, visit www.BradentonPD.com/SchoolZoneCameras.
