Improving Road Safety in Alachua County
Starting April 24, 2026, Alachua County and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office will launch a School Zone Speed Safety Program to protect students and enhance road safety during school hours. Cameras have been installed in several school zones around the county to ensure drivers follow posted speed limits, creating a safer environment for children. After a 30-day warning period that begins on April 24, 2026, vehicles speeding during school hours will now receive a $100.00 fine with the notice of violation being sent through the mail.
Alachua County School Zone Speed Safety Program Fact Sheet
KEY DATES
- Warning Period Start Date: (Projected start date) April 24, 2026 (during this time, violators will receive warnings, not citations)
- Warning Period Duration: 30 Days
- Notice of Violation Start Date: May 24, 2026
PROGRAM OVERVIEW Q&A
Q: What is the School Zone Speed Safety Program?
A: It is a traffic safety program designed to reduce speeding in school zones and help protect students, families, and school staff. The program uses speed safety cameras to encourage safer driving when school zone speed limits are in effect.
Q: Why is the County doing this now?
A: Because speeding in school zones is a documented concern. A speed study conducted for Alachua County recorded high volumes of speeding at the school zones included in this launch.
Q: Which locations are included in this launch?
A: The program will launch at the following schools:
• Chiles Elementary School (2 cameras)
• Wiles Elementary School (2 cameras)
Q: When does the program begin?
A: The warning period begins April 24 and lasts 30 days.
Q: What happens during the warning period?
A: During the warning period, drivers who exceed the posted school zone speed limit by 11 MPH or more will receive a warning notice. The goal is education and awareness so drivers can adjust behavior.
Q: When do notices of violation begin, and what is the fine?
A: Notices of violation begin after the 30-day warning period ends. The civil penalty is $100 for qualifying violations.
Q: What is the threshold for a warning or citation?
A: Drivers traveling 11 MPH or more over the posted school zone speed limit will receive a warning during the warning period or a notice of violation after the warning period has ended. Drivers traveling 15 MPH or more over the posted speed limit while school is in session, but the school zone is not active, will receive a warning during the warning period or a notice of violation after the warning period has ended. This threshold is intended to focus on meaningful speeding, not minor fluctuations.
Q: What did the speed study find near the launch locations?
A: The study recorded:
- Kimball Wiles Elementary School (SW 75th St): 2,251 speeding violations during the study period, with 8,773 vehicles counted.
- Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School (SW 24th Ave): 1,783 speeding violations during the study period, with 4,929 vehicles counted.
These results indicate speeding near schools is not occasional. The study documented hundreds to thousands of speeding events during the study window.
Q: How big of a problem is it, in simple terms?
A: Based on the study’s threshold of 10+ MPH over the posted speed limit, the recorded violation total near Wiles is roughly one quarter of all vehicles counted, and the recorded violation total at Chiles on SW 24th Avenue is nearly of all vehicles counted.
Q: Why does the study mention 10+ MPH and the program says 11+ MPH?
A: The speed study reports violations using its own thresholds. The ACSO program warning threshold is 11 MPH or more over the posted school zone speed limit. Both point to the same issue: consistent speeding near schools.
Q: Is this program active all day?
A: The cameras enforce when school zone speed limits are in effect based on posted school zone signage and applicable signals, as well as when the school zone is not active, but school is in session. The program is active 30 minutes prior to school beginning, which includes breakfast programs, and 30 minutes after school ends. Drivers should follow both the posted speed limit and flashing school zone signage.
Q: How does this help safety?
A: Lower speeds increase reaction time and reduce stopping distance. In school zones, that matters because children and families may be crossing, walking, biking, or loading and unloading vehicles.
Q: Why use cameras instead of deputies?
A: Deputies will continue traffic enforcement, but they cannot be present at every school zone every day. Cameras provide a consistent deterrent while allowing deputies to focus on broader public safety needs.
Q: Is this a revenue program?
A: No. While a violation will result in a $100.00 administrative fine, this is a safety program focused on behavior change. It starts with warnings to educate drivers. The best outcome is fewer violations because more drivers slow down.
Q: How will drivers know where the cameras are?
A: Camera locations are being shared publicly. This launch includes Chiles Elementary and Wiles Elementary. We have seen that most major GPS providers have also marked the locations to provide a warning to drivers.
Q: What should drivers do to avoid a warning or notice of violation?
A: Slow down in school zones, watch for school zone signage and signals, and stay alert for children, crossing guards, buses, and families.
Q: I have received a notice of violation?
A: Pay the violation using the assigned citation number and pin number at https://www.onlinecitationpayment.com
Q: I received a violation and I was not the driver?
A: Go to https://www.onlinecitationpayment.com
If you have received a notice of violation and need to claim non-operation or non-liability use these forms-
Civil Violation Non-Operation
Civil Violation Non-Liability
If you have received a Uniform Traffic Citation (UTC) and need to claim non-operation or non-liability use this form-
UTC Non-Liability/Operation
***FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FORM CAREFULLY. ***
To pay online: You may view your violation images and pay your fine at https://www.onlinecitationpayment.com
To pay by phone: Please call the Automated Enforcement Division Customer Service Call Center toll-free (866) 506-2155 to pay by credit card 24/7. Between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM EST, Monday – Friday, a representative will assist you with payments or questions.
To pay by mail: To pay the violation, mail the return coupon form your fine notice along with a check or money order [NO CASH] payable to , “County of Alachua, FL”. To ensure proper processing, print the violation number on your payment. Send payment to: County of Alachua, FL Speed Enforcement PO BOX 530710 Atlanta GA 30353-0710