Thousands of drivers across Florida are unexpectedly finding their driver’s license suspended. See why a new law allowing cameras to automatically fine car owners for speeding in a school zone is leading to thousands of suspected licenses across Florida.
Find out how to avoid a violation and what to do if you find your license is suspended.
What Changed? A 2023 Florida Speed Camera Law
In 2023, the Florida legislature passed HB 657. The law gave counties and municipalities the authority to enforce speed limits in school zones through camera-based speed-detection systems.
Through the law, Florida cities and counties can install cameras that automatically:
- Record vehicles going more than 10 mph over the limit
- Capture license plate information
- Mail a $100 violation notice to the registered vehicle owner (not the person driving)
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, implemented the law and launched “Operation Safe Passage” in November 2024. The first cameras in Hillsborough County were installed at Riverview High School.
Hillsborough County also runs a separate program for school buses. Since August 2024, cameras on school buses activate automatically when the stop arm is deployed. If a driver goes around a stopped bus, a $225 fine gets mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.
Speed Cameras Lead to Thousands of Tickets
The goal of the law is to punish speeding drivers and protect kids near schools, and it’s working in catching vehicles speeding through school areas.
In Miami Gardens, 20 cameras resulted in more than 80,000 violations in one four-month period. That’s an average of more than 900 violations per school day. More than 120 cameras in Miami-Dade County led to $17 million in fine revenue over an eight-month period, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Many drivers are getting caught, getting fines, and in some cases, getting license suspensions.
Cameras placed in schools across the state have led to nearly 34,000 license suspensions, according to data from the county clerk’s office obtained by the Miami Herald.
How a $100 Ticket Becomes a Suspended License
When a camera violation is issued, a notice gets mailed to the address on file for the vehicle’s registered owner. It does not go to the person driving at the time of the violation. The fine is given to the vehicle’s owner and mailed to the most recent address on the vehicle registration.
After 30 days, an unpaid $100 camera violation can be escalated into an actual speeding citation, which leads to higher fees and potential points on your license. If that citation continues to go unpaid or uncontested, the license is at risk of suspension. The court sends a suspension warning by certified mail.
Many impacted drivers say they were unaware of the fine because they had moved or missed the mail and didn’t realize they had a violation until they learned their license was already suspended.
Prevent a License Suspension
Adhering to speed limits is the best and safest way to prevent a fine or license suspension, but also, be aware of what can happen if you or another person driving your car is caught speeding.
- Don’t speed. Adhere to speed limits in school zones and other areas on the road.
- Check your records and your mail. Make sure your car registration address is up to date, and keep an eye out for official mail. If you aren’t sure if a citation is junk or spam, look it up on your county’s Clerk of Court website.
- If you’ve received a camera violation, don’t ignore it. Even if you weren’t the one driving, the fine goes to the registered owner of the vehicle. You have 30 days to pay or contest it. After that, your options get more limited and more expensive.
- Don’t drive with a suspended license. If you discover your license has been suspended, do not get behind the wheel. Driving on a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Florida.
- Act quickly. The longer a suspension sits unresolved, the more complicated it gets to clear.
- Talk to an attorney. Depending on when the violation occurred and how the notice was sent, there may be grounds to contest the citation or get the suspension resolved without the worst consequences. If you weren’t properly notified, if the address on file was wrong, or if there are other factors in play, an attorney can review what happened and help you figure out the right path forward.
Related: What to Ask During a Free Consultation with a Lawyer
Don’t Delay. Deal with Your Driver’s License Issues Today.
If you’re dealing with a camera ticket, a citation, or a suspended license and you’re not sure what to do, contact attorney TJ Grimaldi.
TJ is a Tampa-based criminal defense attorney who can help you navigate the complexities of the legal system. Get help and get through the process more quickly and with less resistance. Schedule your free consultation with TJ Grimaldi. Call 813-226-1023 or contact us today.