The City of St. Cloud’s new School Zone Speed Safety Program officially goes live today, initiating a 30-day warning period for drivers caught speeding through designated school zones. The initiative aims to enhance student and pedestrian safety near local schools by using camera technology to monitor and enforce speed limits during school hours.

Drivers who exceed the 15 mph speed limit by more than 10 mph while school zone lights are flashing will receive a warning notice by mail. These notices serve as a reminder of the legal requirement to slow down in active school zones and the importance of safe driving behavior near schools. Beginning Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the program will transition from warnings to $100 citations for violators.

“This program will help protect students and faculty on their way to and from our schools,” said St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke. “This warning period will reinforce to drivers the importance of safe driving behavior, helping the City of St. Cloud to create safer streets.”

Camera-Enforced Zones Cover Five School Areas

The city has installed automated speed cameras at 11 locations surrounding the following schools:

  • St. Cloud High School

  • Michigan Avenue Elementary School

  • St. Cloud Elementary

  • Canoe Creek K-8

  • Lakeview Elementary

The program is being administered by Verra Mobility, a national leader in speed enforcement and traffic safety technology. When a violation is detected, the system captures an image of the vehicle’s license plate. That footage is then securely reviewed and verified by St. Cloud Police Department officers before a warning or citation is issued.

Focus on Safety and Education

City officials emphasize that the program is not only about enforcement but also education and long-term behavioral change.

“This is about creating a culture of safety,” said Goerke. “Our goal is to get drivers to slow down—not to issue tickets. If this warning period helps prevent even one accident, it will have been worth it.”

For more information about the City of St. Cloud’s School Zone Speed Safety Program, including maps of enforcement zones and FAQs, visit:
👉 www.stcloudfl.gov/2310/School-Zone-Safety-Camera-Program