Bernie Mont
•7/27/2026
Altumint, the company operating Sanibel’s school zone speed cameras, will refund over $130,000 worth of traffic citations after a camera near Sanibel School was found to be inaccurately recording speeds for drivers headed west on Sanibel Captiva Road.
Sanibel police received dozens of complaints in June about the camera’s accuracy.
“We tested the system 4 or 5 times with our own radar units,” Chief William Dalton of the Sanibel Police Department said.
The tests revealed that the camera was reading speeds higher than they truly were, an issue that began when Altumint moved the camera in November 2025 to comply with Florida Department of Transportation requirements. The camera was originally positioned closer to the road but was relocated farther back, on the other side of a bike path.
Chief Dalton said the camera's radar was obstructed by a nearby tree, which likely caused the faulty readings. Altumint added an arm to the camera's original pole so that it now has a clear view of the road.
The fine for speeding in a school zone is $100, as mandated by Florida law.
Of the 1,701 citations issued, 1,335 will be refunded.
“We were pleased that the vendors decided on their own to refund everybody, although it’s not likely everyone received a citation in error,” Dalton said.
Randy Rainbolt, who works on Sanibel Island, shared his perspective on the situation after he received a fine for a traffic violation he committed in Fort Myers.
“I wish I would get a refund, but again I was in the wrong. I just didn’t know it,” Rainbolt said.
He added, “I’m glad that they figured out there was something wrong, because people shouldn’t get a ticket if they don’t deserve to.”
The Sanibel Police Department will dismiss any unpaid citations, though it is unclear when the refunds will be issued.
