By Cindy Peterson
Slow Down! Eustis Gets New School Zone Speed Cameras
The City of Eustis is aiming to enhance safety in school zones with the installation of the state’s first school zone speed enforcement cameras. This project aims to protect students and pedestrians by deterring speeding drivers and enforcing traffic regulations near school premises.
Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri alongside Eustis city officials unveiled the school zone speed enforcement cameras Wednesday morning. The cameras, installed at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Prescott Street near Eustis Elementary School, serve as a proactive measure to combat reckless driving behaviors that pose a threat to the community.
“Our kids are out here going to school in the morning, the last thing we want to do is see a kid get hit by a car,” Capri said. “I mean, that’s what this is all about, saving lives, so this equipment is gonna help us do that and it’ll be funded by the violators, not by the taxpayers.”
In accordance with legislation passed last year permitting the use of such cameras in school zones, the City of Eustis has taken swift action to implement this vital safety measure. These cameras function similarly to stoplight cameras, capturing instances of vehicles exceeding the speed limit within designated school zones.
In a recent study, traffic officials found that 30 percent of cars drove through this school zone at more than 10 mph over the speed limit. The highest recorded was 63 mph.
During this grace period, drivers will receive warnings in the mail if caught driving more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. This grace period serves as an opportunity to educate the public about the importance of adhering to speed limits in school zones.
Following the awareness campaign, enforcement measures will be fully implemented, with violators facing fines of $100, administered by the Eustis Police Department upon review of the camera footage. No points will be added to the driving records of offending motorists.
The school zone cameras will be operational from Monday to Friday, with enforcement hours from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except on Wednesdays, when enforcement will conclude at 2:30 p.m.
City officials urge all residents and motorists to exercise caution and comply with posted speed limits in school zones to ensure the safety of our children and pedestrians.
Originally from the small town of Berryville, Arkansas, Cindy has become a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography, and video editing. She has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine's Sports Hub Podcast and the Healthy Living Podcast. She also produces for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy loves traveling the National Parks with her husband , Ryan, and son, David, photographing wildlife.
