If you’re whizzing through school zones in Cape Coral, you might want to smile for the camera — and be prepared to pay up starting January.
New cameras at school zones will take pictures of your car, and if you're caught going 10 or more over the posted limit, you'll get a $100 ticket in the mail.
In front of Mariner Middle School on Chiquita Boulevard is one of the spots where the cameras will be watching.
People who live nearby and go to the school hope it will improve safety on Chiquita Boulevard, especially with so many students trying to cross the road and using the sidewalks before and after school.
"It's really bad. they go 60 over here when they're telling you to slow down and go 35," said Eric Zerna, a student at Mariner High School. "Once they caught or once they get disciplined. ... That's when they'll start understanding that you cannot speed around here, bro. So honestly, I think it will do a lot."
Others like Zenia Morejon, a parent with two kids at Mariner Middle, aren't so sure if the amount the city plans to fine speeders will be enough to force drivers to pump the brakes.
"I don't know if that's going to work or not ... I think people are just driving crazy everywhere," said Morejon. "Maybe if it's a little more ... maybe like $500?"
Construction is underway right now at most of the 16 school zones where the city is installing speed detection cameras. Hookups and inspections are expected to finish by the end of the month. The cameras will operate on school days, with enforcement starting 30 minutes before classes begin and wrapping up 30 minutes after dismissal.
Here's a list of where the RedSpeed Photo Enforcement Systems are being installed:
▪️ Diplomat Elementary/Middle School
▪️ Mariner Middle School
▪️ Trafalgar Elementary/Middle School
▪️ Cape Elementary (zones 1 and 2)
▪️ Patriot Elementary
▪️ Cape Coral Christian School
▪️ Oasis Charter Elementary (North)
▪️ Ida S. Baker High/Gulf Elementary
▪️ Challenger Middle
▪️ Nicaea Academy of Cape Coral
▪️ Skyline Elementary
▪️ Gulf Elementary
▪️ Pelican Elementary
▪️ Heritage Charter Academy of Cape Coral
▪️ St. Andrews Catholic School
For one month after the cameras are up at school zones, speeders will receive a warning. Afterward, it's a $100 reminder to slow down.