Charlotte County Launches School Zone Speed Enforcement System

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2026) - Charlotte County is implementing school zone speed enforcement cameras to enhance safety. The first phase of the program will go live on Feb. 27, 2026. During a 30-day warning period, you will receive a warning notice by mail if you are caught speeding.

Starting April 1, 2026, citations will be issued. If a vehicle is detected exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph, the registered owner will receive a notice of violation with a fine of $100 approximately three days after the violation occurred. For example, if you are driving 31 mph in a 20-mph school zone, you will be cited.

Each violation will be recorded by the camera system. Before any citation is issued, a law enforcement officer or traffic infraction enforcement officer will carefully review the violation.

What happens if you receive a violation notice?

You have three options:

• Pay the violation
• Submit an affidavit explaining an exception to liability under Florida State Statute 316.1896(8)
• Request a hearing

Cameras are installed in school speed zones of nine Charlotte County schools in the first phase:

• Lemon Bay High School, 2201 Placida Road, Englewood, FL 34224
• Port Charlotte High School, 18200 Cochran Ave., Port Charlotte, FL 33948
• Port Charlotte Middle School, 23000 Midway Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33952
• L.A. Ainger Middle School, 245 Cougar Way, Rotonda West, FL 33947
• Murdock Middle School, 17325 Mariner Way, Port Charlotte, FL 33948
• Peace River Elementary, 4070 Beaver Lane, Port Charlotte, FL 33952
• Neil Armstrong Elementary, 22100 Breezeswept Ave., Port Charlotte, FL 33952
• Liberty Elementary, 370 Atwater St., Port Charlotte, FL 33954
• Deep Creek Elementary, 26900 Harborview Road, Punta Gorda, FL 33983

Cameras will only operate on school days. They will be active 30 minutes before arriving at a regularly scheduled breakfast program to 30 minutes after the start of the school day and 30 minutes before and after school ends. Times will be posted in each school zone, specific to that school's schedule.

Watch a video about the school zone speed enforcement cameras here: https://youtu.be/Tbyx7VtHNfI

For more information, visit our FAQ section on RedSpeed Cameras at https://www.CharlotteCountyFL.gov/SchoolZoneSpeed.

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