A crackdown on speeding near Boca Raton schools has led to more than 300 drivers getting citations so far — and there’s more to come with the expansion of a safety program.
Boca Raton’s new school zone safety program began issuing citations less than two weeks ago, one of many such programs across South Florida. Drivers in Boca have received more than 320 citations, each with a $100 fine, as of early Tuesday, Boca Raton police said.
The citations are automatically issued if a driver is going more than 10 mph in a school zone during arrival and dismissal times when the school zone lights are flashing. Cameras in the school zones capture the incident.
A traffic camera is shown near Boca Raton Community High School on Friday, Oct. 23, 2025. During arrival and dismissal times when the school zone lights are flashing, drivers exceeding the speed limit by 10 or more mph will automatically receive a citation and a $100 fine. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The program officially began on Oct. 16.
The citations are considered civil infractions and don’t result in license points or insurance hikes.
The first phase of the program involves enforcement zones at three schools, while a second phase will add zones at four other schools.
The current locations of the program are by:
— Addison Mizner Elementary School.
— Boca Raton Community High School.
— J.C. Mitchell Elementary School.
At some point during the school year, there are plans to add enforcement zones by:
— Blue Lake Elementary School.
— Calusa Elementary School.
— Omni Middle School
— Spanish River Community High School.
A hearing can be requested to challenge the citation. Or, fines must be paid within 30 days of the offense.
If neither is pursued within the time frame, a state traffic citation is issued.
Boca Raton police said there was “an extensive warning period” for the program that started Sept. 2. “During this warning period, there have been more than 1,300 warnings issued, with more than half of those warnings coming around J.C. Mitchell Elementary School,” police said in a Facebook post.
Reacting to the Facebook post, some people panned the plan. Others welcomed the effort, listing some additional locations they wished would have such enforcement zones. One commenter said, “Make it a $500 fine with points!!”
This program comes from a 2023 state law authorizing cities and counties to enforce speed limits in school zone through a speed detection system.
Various communities across South Florida, including in Palm Beach County, have pushed forward with their programs. Delray Beach has a school zone safety program at nine of the city’s schools. Boynton Beach is using the program at seven schools.
