PALM BAY’S SCHOOL ZONE SPEED CAMERAS: SAFETY MEASURE OR REVENUE GRAB?
Palm Bay, FL — Palm Bay’s School Zone Speed Enforcement Program has ignited a contentious debate within the community. While city officials and some residents tout the cameras as an essential tool for enhancing child safety, others argue they are little more than a government-backed cash grab. The controversy, which has played out in city council meetings, public forums, and social media, raises critical questions about fairness, enforcement accuracy, financial impact, and government transparency.
BACKGROUND: THE PURPOSE OF THE CAMERAS
The City of Palm Bay implemented school zone speed cameras as part of a statewide initiative enabled by Florida House Bill 657, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in May 2023. These cameras, which activate 30 minutes before and after school hours, are designed to detect and ticket drivers exceeding the school zone limit by more than 10 mph.
According to city officials, the program’s primary goal is to deter speeding in areas where children are most vulnerable. The cameras operate under Palm Bay’s Ordinance 2023-114, which granted RedSpeed Florida LLC a contract to install and maintain the system. The program was expected to generate revenue for public safety initiatives while also keeping school zones safer for children.
However, concerns have been raised about whether the cameras were implemented with sufficient public input. Some residents argue that the program was rushed through with minimal transparency, leading to confusion and frustration when citations began arriving in mailboxes.
PUBLIC CONCERNS AND CONTROVERSIES
Technical Malfunctions, Citations, and Key Numbers
One of the most significant concerns surrounding the program has been the accuracy of ticketing. A glitch was discovered when a traffic camera at Palm Bay Road and Glenholme was incorrectly linked to the Odyssey Charter School zone, causing violations to be recorded at incorrect times. This resulted in numerous wrongful citations, which the city later dismissed. By late February 2025, just a few months after the system went live, 86 people had already paid their fines and required refunds.
Additionally, between the system’s go-live date in mid-November and the subsequent pause in enforcement, the city issued 3,970 warnings to speeding drivers. Of those who received actual citations, 898 individuals promptly paid their fines, while at least 20 others decided to challenge their tickets—a number that could grow once official hearings begin.
Residents have also reported discrepancies in ticket locations and times. Public comments include:
“My son got one today in the mail. The picture shows Palm Bay Road, but the paper they sent says he was down in Bayside.”
“I got one in the mail today. There’s no way I was driving that fast—I don’t speed like that. I have a Class A CDL, no points, and have been a safe driver for years.”
“Had this happen today. The violation supposedly occurred at Malabar/Eldron, but the photo shows a location farther east.”
Unanswered Questions About Oversight
The sheer volume of warnings—nearly 4,000—before the program’s suspension has led some residents to wonder how closely each alert was reviewed. Official statements indicated that both RedSpeed and the city’s Traffic Unit would confirm each potential violation, ensuring times, locations, and speeds were accurate. Yet the recent glitch and a flurry of complaints have cast doubt on whether that step was consistently applied. Observers note that if multiple layers of verification were operating correctly, glaring errors in dates, speed zones, or addresses should have been identified long before tickets reached mailboxes.
It remains unclear how many of the alerts flagged by the vendor were stopped internally, or if the majority were simply passed along with minimal scrutiny. While no one has publicly confirmed an automatic “rubber stamp” process, these unresolved questions continue to hover over the temporary suspension, leaving many to wonder whether the built-in checks and balances actually protected drivers from flawed or duplicate citations.
Lance Fisher’s Inside Perspective
Lance Fisher, a retired deputy chief of the Palm Bay Police Department, provided a behind-the-scenes perspective that aligns with many residents’ concerns. During a city council meeting, Fisher revealed that internal discussions about the cameras were never centered around safety. Instead, he said, the focus was on revenue generation and expanding the city’s surveillance capabilities.
“Safety was never mentioned one time,” Fisher stated. “We were super excited when we heard a small town in Georgia with 11 cameras was making $255,000 a month.”
He further claimed that RedSpeed enticed the city with an offer to provide free Flock surveillance cameras for each speed camera installed, increasing the city’s ability to monitor drivers.
Fisher also criticized the lack of traffic enforcement by officers, alleging that traffic stops were actively discouraged. “We have officers that do zero traffic stops a month. Safety is not a priority,” he asserted. This contradicts claims by Palm Bay officials that the cameras were necessary because officers couldn’t adequately enforce school zone speed limits.
Furthermore, Fisher argued that the city’s reliance on an out-of-state, for-profit company raises ethical concerns. “A portion of every citation leaves the city and goes into the hands of private entities,” he said, questioning whether local governments should be involved in revenue-sharing agreements with corporations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT AND REVENUE CONCERNS
Critics argue the cameras prioritize revenue generation over child safety. Palm Bay receives only $39 of the $100 fine per ticket, with the remaining amount distributed among RedSpeed ($21), the state ($20), Brevard County Schools ($12), and other entities.
Councilman Langevin raised concerns about the financial burden on working-class families, stating:
“If you’re living paycheck to paycheck and get hit with a $100 ticket, you have to choose between paying it or cutting back on essential expenses.”
Similar financial worries led Manatee County to discontinue its school zone camera program in March 2025. Since its launch in August 2024, Manatee County’s cameras issued 55,243 citations at $100 each, generating millions in revenue. After public outcry and commissioner concerns about the program being a “money grab,” the county voted 5-2 to terminate its contract with RedSpeed.
LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE CHALLENGES
Palm Bay’s speed camera program is part of a broader debate on automated enforcement. While Florida has moved toward authorizing school zone cameras, Georgia lawmakers are moving in the opposite direction—actively working to ban the very systems Palm Bay has implemented. If successful, Georgia’s legislative action could set a precedent that influences how Florida and other states approach automated traffic enforcement.
As of early 2025, Georgia legislators have introduced multiple bills aimed at outlawing school zone speed cameras statewide, citing concerns over incorrect ticketing, opaque revenue-sharing models, and a surge in driver complaints. The growing opposition reflects a broader skepticism about whether these cameras serve primarily as safety measures or as revenue-generating tools.
Legislative Momentum in Georgia
One driving force behind Georgia’s proposed ban is the well-publicized controversy in Jonesboro, where over 1,200 citations were deemed erroneous. The city ultimately refunded nearly $80,000 worth of tickets, fueling citizen outrage and prompting lawmakers to question the reliability of automated enforcement. Some Georgia representatives have labeled the cameras “revenue machines,” contending they unfairly penalize working-class families.
Adding to the legislative push, attorneys like John Bell filed class action lawsuits against private camera operators, alleging wrongful impersonation of law enforcement and racketeering. This legal backdrop, combined with public backlash over high-volume ticketing, prompted several Georgia legislators to champion a comprehensive ban. Proposed bills have garnered significant support, with one measure—often referred to as “HB 225”—securing over 90 co-sponsors.
Key Points Behind the Georgia Ban
Mass Refunds: Incorrect citations in places like Jonesboro undermined public trust.
Revenue Focus: Critics claim local governments and private vendors prioritize profit, not safety.
Technical Glitches: Frequent reports of cameras malfunctioning or being synced to the wrong speed zones.
Public Confusion: Many drivers claimed they were unaware of exact enforcement times and questioned signage.
Although the ban is still pending, political observers say it has broad bipartisan backing, reflecting a growing sentiment that automated enforcement in Georgia has veered off course. If enacted, Georgia would effectively outlaw the very systems Palm Bay now employs, highlighting a stark contrast in how different states view the role of speed cameras.
SUPPORT FOR THE CAMERAS
Despite these issues, many believe the cameras effectively deter speeding. Mayor Rob Medina stated:
“This is a deterrent. It will change behavior and save lives.”
Councilman Kenny Johnson strongly emphasized his agreement with Mayor Medina’s stance, reiterating that while the program had encountered initial technical difficulties, the fundamental goal remained unchanged. He pointed to other municipalities where similar systems had proven successful in reducing speeding incidents.
“I understand the concerns, but hitting people’s pockets is a deterrent. We need more data before making any decisions on termination.”
He also noted that increased awareness of the cameras had already led to behavioral changes, with many drivers now exercising greater caution in school zones. Johnson argued that while improvements in transparency and communication with the public were necessary, dismantling the system entirely would be premature and could potentially compromise student safety. He further expressed interest in conducting a thorough review of the system’s impact over a full academic year before making any permanent decisions.
Parents like Alisa Nits support the cameras, recalling instances of children being hit by cars in school zones.
“Too bad for them,” she said when asked about privacy concerns, “because I’ve actually seen a kid get hit walking into a bus stop.”
CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK
Palm Bay Police have temporarily suspended the issuance of citations while they address the technical issues and public concerns. A full audit of the program is underway, and the first hearings for contested tickets are scheduled for April.
With 3,970 warnings issued and 898 fines paid before the suspension, debate continues over the efficiency and ethics of automated enforcement. The City Council remains divided, with some members pushing for outright termination while others advocate for adjustments to improve accuracy and public trust. Until then, Palm Bay residents remain at the center of an ongoing conversation about the delicate balance between public safety and government overreach.
Curated by AI and fact-checked by The Palm Bayer.
$100 fine and no first hand witness to corroborate the charge or cross-examine?
Have you read your Constitution lately?
I realize politics are a bad point, passive detection is not answer, consider community involvement as primary and cameras as a last resort. Infrastructure is the problem, there are many different ways to solve a problem, foresight or management by objective is the best, hindsight or management by exception always fails planned communties MUST conduct infrastructural studies prior to and complete them prior to the start of a project and accomplish 700 housing units=1500 vehicles indicates the need for another I-95 exit. WHO pays?