Luna Garcia

On May 31, 2023, House Bill 657 was passed to install school zone safety cameras in the Village of Pinecrest. Now, for the 2024-25 school year, Pinecrest has begun the enforcement of school zone safety cameras to ensure better safety for students and faculty. 

Pinecrest is not the first to enforce these cameras. On Jan. 6, 2021, Snellville, Georgia started enforcing school zone safety cameras when House Bill 978 was passed. Similarly, Lawrenceville, Georgia began to enforce school zone safety cameras in August 2022. Since then, school zone cameras have proven to bring safety to schools. Since 2021, there has been an overall speed reduction of 92.5%, a 50% overall reduction in accidents, and 80% reduction in injuries. 

The school zone cameras themselves do not take any money from taxpayers. The whole enforcement system is fully funded by paid violations and not by Pinecrest.

The school zone safety cameras are being installed around and outside of Pinecrest schools. Pinecrest schools will utilize the school zone safety cameras to help regulate and maintain safe speed limits and road behavior. 

“I think it will better the safety of Palmetto students because it will slow the drivers down because they drive insane, speed and make illegal U-turns,” Miami Palmetto Senior High Resource Officer Naima Biambay said. 

Pinecrest is trying to create a safer environment for MPSH students so they can get to and leave school safely. 

“I don’t think it would make me safer while driving because if I want to speed I would just speed, but I think it makes it safer for students, also parents,” senior Eduardo Velasquez said.

While these cameras might not please student drivers, they provide safety for students who do not have a vehicle and have to walk out of campus to find their rides. 

“The speed cameras make me feel safer crossing the street when walking in and out of school because the cameras are encouraging drivers to follow the speed limit. With the drivers being more aware of the speed zone cameras they will slow down and be more aware of their surroundings, which makes me feel a lot safer getting to and leaving school,” sophomore Syvie Kandell said. 

While the enforcement of these cameras keeps students safe, some students might be getting themselves in trouble. When driving in school zones, if one drives 10 mph over the speed limit and gets caught, they will get a ticket of $100. 

“With these new cameras, students need to slow down. Be mindful if you’re going over 10 to 15 miles because they will give you a ticket which could lead to your license getting suspended if you do not pay the ticket,” Biambay said. “Just slow down, drive safe and make sure you buckle up.”