By Julia Metz
Certain counties in Florida, such as Hillsborough, have recently implemented speed tracking cameras in school zones, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Residents in neighboring counties, such as Pinellas and Pasco, have noticed drivers speeding through school zones. For Ashley Barden, walking her kindergartener to school every day has raised some concerns for her child’s safety.
“Absolutely, I think the cameras are a good idea. Drivers speeding through a school zone is the same as when people don’t stop for the school buses,” Barden said. “That is so unsafe. Those poor babies. It’s very scary. Some people have no regard.”
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the program allowing the cameras in Hillsborough’s school zones is called “Operation Safe Passage,” which launched in 2024.
Drivers will receive a notice in the mail if they exceed the posted speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour in the school zone.
Deputy J. Angelone of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said that he recently witnessed drivers speeding through an active school zone.
“Me and one of my zone partners were sitting outside one of the elementary schools, while the flashing lights showed a speed limit of 15 miles an hour, and we caught two speeders, one going 30, and one going 40,” Angelone said. “One was in a tow truck. If a kid had run out in front of him, he would not have been able to stop.”
Parents and officers are not the only ones who have witnessed unsafe driving patterns through school zones. Domonique Tomlinson, a K-2 instructional literacy coach for Pinellas County Schools, said she has observed many instances on her daily commute.
“I witness drivers speeding through school zones almost every day. We live near Lakewood High School, and I witness it there as well as outside of other school sites,” Tomlinson said. “I also drive through multiple school zones on 38th Ave on my way home from work and witness drivers speeding through school zones.”
Bay News 9 reports that since Hillsborough County’s speeding violations in school zones have increased by more than 1,000%. The reactions from drivers have been mixed, with some displeased by the increased chances of consequences and others appreciating the extra safety measures taken.
While Pinellas County Schools do not have any speed cameras currently, some citizens, like Tomlinson, think they would be a good idea.
“I think that people will keep speeding through school zones unless there is a consequence for their actions. Maybe the cameras would encourage drivers to slow down, which would, in turn, keep our students safer,” Tomlinson said.
The Ticket Clinic stated that as of February 2026, 278 schools in Florida have active speed enforcement cameras. Of those, 29 are in Hillsborough County.
The addition of speed cameras may support existing school resource officers by providing more coverage of school zones. Barden stated that there is only one officer stationed outside her child’s school for two active zones where drop-off and pickup take place.
Angelone said that if speed cameras are proven to be effective, other counties may invoke them.
“If the command staff looks at it and sees Hillsborough’s slowing down traffic by doing this, maybe they’ll start implementing it here in Pasco and other surrounding counties,” Angelone said. “I think if one county starts it and it shows positive change, usually it kind of trickles down to other ones.”
