Dozens of drivers cited for speeding in Hillsborough County school zones appeared Thursday at the Brandon Services Center to appeal their violations, as a dramatic rise in automated enforcement continues to draw attention across the county.
Since August 2025, more than 100,000 school zone speeding tickets have been issued by speed cameras, an increase of more than 1,000% from the prior school year.
The cameras are currently operating in 32 school zones throughout Hillsborough County and remain active throughout the school day. Citations are only triggered when a driver exceeds the posted speed limit by more than 10 mph.
The standard fine is $100. Paying it allows drivers to avoid points on their license and bypass the appeals process entirely. County data indicates that most people choose that route — only about 8% of challenged violations have been overturned. On Thursday, approximately 40 drivers were scheduled to contest their citations before a hearing officer.
School zone camera citations are not classified as moving violations, so paying the fine carries no impact on a driver’s official record. However, ignoring a ticket can lead to escalating consequences, including a uniform traffic citation that carries license points and potentially a license suspension.
Officials say the program’s primary aim is to improve safety in school zones, though the sharp rise in ticket volume has prompted concern and resistance from some drivers.
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