316.1896 Roadways maintained as school zones; speed detection system enforcement; penalties; appeal procedure; privacy; reports.—
(1) For purposes of administering this section, a county or municipality may authorize a traffic infraction enforcement officer under s. 316.640 to issue uniform traffic citations for violations of ss. 316.1895 and 316.183 as authorized by s. 316.008(9), as follows:
(a) For a violation of s. 316.1895 in excess of 10 miles per hour over the school zone speed limit which occurs within 30 minutes before through 30 minutes after the start of a regularly scheduled breakfast program.
(b) For a violation of s. 316.1895 in excess of 10 miles per hour over the school zone speed limit which occurs within 30 minutes before through 30 minutes after the start of a regularly scheduled school session.
(c) For a violation of s. 316.183 in excess of 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit during the entirety of a regularly scheduled school session.
(d) For a violation of s. 316.1895 in excess of 10 miles per hour over the school zone speed limit which occurs within 30 minutes before through 30 minutes after the end of a regularly scheduled school session.
Such violation must be evidenced by a speed detection system described in ss. 316.008(9) and 316.0776(3). This subsection does not prohibit a review of information from a speed detection system by an authorized employee or agent of a county or municipality before issuance of the uniform traffic citation by the traffic infraction enforcement officer. This subsection does not prohibit a county or municipality from issuing notices as provided in subsection (2) to the registered owner of the motor vehicle for a violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183.
(2) Within 30 days after a violation, notice must be sent to the registered owner of the motor vehicle involved in the violation specifying the remedies available under s. 318.14 and that the violator must pay the penalty under s. 318.18(3)(d) to the county or municipality, or furnish an affidavit in accordance with subsection (8), within 30 days after the date of the notice of violation in order to avoid court fees, costs, and the issuance of a uniform traffic citation. The notice of violation must:
(a) Be sent by first-class mail.
(b) Include a photograph or other recorded image showing the license plate of the motor vehicle; the date, time, and location of the violation; the maximum speed at which the motor vehicle was traveling within the school zone; and the speed limit within the school zone at the time of the violation.
(c) Include a notice that the owner has the right to review, in person or remotely, the photograph or video captured by the speed detection system and the evidence of the speed of the motor vehicle detected by the speed detection system which constitute a rebuttable presumption that the motor vehicle was used in violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183.
(d) State the time when, and the place or website at which, the photograph or video captured and evidence of speed detected may be examined and observed.
(3) Notwithstanding any other law, a person who receives a notice of violation under this section may request a hearing within 30 days after the notice of violation or may pay the penalty pursuant to the notice of violation, but a payment or fee may not be required before the hearing requested by the person. The notice of violation must be accompanied by, or direct the person to a website that provides, information on the person’s right to request a hearing and on all costs related thereto and a form used for requesting a hearing. As used in this subsection, the term “person” includes a natural person, the registered owner or co-owner of a motor vehicle, or the person identified in an affidavit as having actual care, custody, or control of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation.
(4) If the registered owner or co-owner of the motor vehicle; the person identified as having care, custody, or control of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation; or an authorized representative of the owner, co-owner, or identified person initiates a proceeding to challenge the violation, such person waives any challenge or dispute as to the delivery of the notice of violation.
(5) Penalties assessed and collected by the county or municipality authorized to collect the funds provided for in this section, less the amount retained by the county or municipality pursuant to paragraph (b) and paragraph (e) and the amount remitted to the county school district pursuant to paragraph (d), must be paid to the Department of Revenue weekly. Such payment must be made by means of electronic funds transfer. In addition to the payment, a detailed summary of the penalties remitted must be reported to the Department of Revenue. Penalties to be assessed and collected by the county or municipality as established in s. 318.18(3)(d) must be remitted as follows:
(a) Twenty dollars must be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the General Revenue Fund.
(b) Sixty dollars must be retained by the county or municipality and must be used to administer speed detection systems in school zones and other public safety initiatives.
(c) Three dollars must be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund.
(d) Twelve dollars must be remitted to the county school district in which the violation occurred and must be used for school security initiatives, for student transportation, or to improve the safety of student walking conditions. Funds remitted under this paragraph must be shared with charter schools in the district based on each charter school’s proportionate share of the district’s total unweighted full-time equivalent student enrollment and must be used for school security initiatives or to improve the safety of student walking conditions.
(e) Five dollars must be retained by the county or municipality for the School Crossing Guard Recruitment and Retention Program pursuant to s. 316.1894.
(6) A uniform traffic citation must be issued by mailing the uniform traffic citation by certified mail to the address of the registered owner of the motor vehicle involved in the violation if payment has not been made within 30 days after notification under subsection (2), if the registered owner has not requested a hearing as authorized under subsection (3), and if the registered owner has not submitted an affidavit in accordance with subsection (8).
(a) Delivery of the uniform traffic citation constitutes notification of a violation under this subsection. If the registered owner or co-owner of the motor vehicle; the person identified as having care, custody, or control of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation; or a duly authorized representative of the owner, co-owner, or identified person initiates a proceeding to challenge the citation pursuant to this section, such person waives any challenge or dispute as to the delivery of the uniform traffic citation.
(b) In the case of joint ownership of a motor vehicle, the uniform traffic citation must be mailed to the first name appearing on the motor vehicle registration, unless the first name appearing on the registration is a business organization, in which case the second name appearing on the registration may be used.
(c) The uniform traffic citation mailed to the registered owner of the motor vehicle involved in the infraction must be accompanied by the information described in paragraphs (2)(b)-(d).
(7) The registered owner of the motor vehicle involved in the violation is responsible and liable for paying the uniform traffic citation issued for a violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183 unless the owner can establish that:
(a) The motor vehicle was, at the time of the violation, in the care, custody, or control of another person;
(b) A uniform traffic citation was issued by law enforcement to the driver of the motor vehicle for the alleged violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183; or
(c) The motor vehicle’s owner was deceased on or before the date of the alleged violation, as established by an affidavit submitted by the representative of the motor vehicle owner’s estate or other identified person or family member.
(8) To establish such facts under subsection (7), the registered owner of the motor vehicle must, within 30 days after the date of issuance of the notice of violation or the uniform traffic citation, furnish to the appropriate governmental entity an affidavit setting forth information supporting an exception under subsection (7).
(a) An affidavit supporting the exception under paragraph (7)(a) must include the name, address, date of birth, and, if known, the driver license number of the person who leased, rented, or otherwise had care, custody, or control of the motor vehicle at the time of the alleged violation. If the motor vehicle was stolen at the time of the alleged violation, the affidavit must include the police report indicating that the motor vehicle was stolen.
(b) If a uniform traffic citation for a violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183 was issued at the location of the violation by a law enforcement officer, the affidavit must include the serial number of the uniform traffic citation.
(c) If the motor vehicle’s owner to whom a notice of violation or a uniform traffic citation has been issued is deceased, the affidavit must include a certified copy of the owner’s death certificate showing that the date of death occurred on or before the date of the alleged violation and one of the following:
1. A bill of sale or other document showing that the deceased owner’s motor vehicle was sold or transferred after his or her death but on or before the date of the alleged violation.
2. Documented proof that the registered license plate belonging to the deceased owner’s motor vehicle was returned to the department or any branch office or authorized agent of the department after his or her death but on or before the date of the alleged violation.
3. A copy of the police report showing that the deceased owner’s registered license plate or motor vehicle was stolen after his or her death but on or before the date of the alleged violation.
Upon receipt of the affidavit and documentation required under paragraphs (b) and (c), or 30 days after the date of issuance of a notice of violation sent to a person identified as having care, custody, or control of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation under paragraph (a), the county or municipality must dismiss the notice or citation and provide proof of such dismissal to the person who submitted the affidavit. If, within 30 days after the date of a notice of violation sent to a person under subsection (9), the county or municipality receives an affidavit under subsection (10) from the person sent a notice of violation affirming that the person did not have care, custody, or control of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation, the county or municipality must notify the registered owner that the notice or citation will not be dismissed due to failure to establish that another person had care, custody, or control of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation.
(9) Upon receipt of an affidavit under paragraph (8)(a), the county or municipality may issue the person identified as having care, custody, or control of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation a notice of violation pursuant to subsection (2) for a violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183. The affidavit is admissible in a proceeding pursuant to this section for the purpose of providing evidence that the person identified in the affidavit was in actual care, custody, or control of the motor vehicle. The owner of a leased motor vehicle for which a uniform traffic citation is issued for a violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183 is not responsible for paying the uniform traffic citation and is not required to submit an affidavit as specified in subsection (8) if the motor vehicle involved in the violation is registered in the name of the lessee of such motor vehicle.
(10) If a county or municipality receives an affidavit under paragraph (8)(a), the notice of violation required under subsection (2) must be sent to the person identified in the affidavit within 30 days after receipt of the affidavit. The person identified in an affidavit and sent a notice of violation may also affirm that he or she did not have care, custody, or control of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation by furnishing to the appropriate governmental entity within 30 days after the date of the notice of violation an affidavit stating such.
(11) The submission of a false affidavit is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(12) The photograph or video captured by a speed detection system and the evidence of the speed of the motor vehicle detected by a speed detection system which are attached to or referenced in the uniform traffic citation are evidence of a violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183 and are admissible in any proceeding to enforce this section. The photograph or video and the evidence of speed detected raise a rebuttable presumption that the motor vehicle named in the report or shown in the photograph or video was used in violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183.
(13) This section supplements the enforcement of ss. 316.1895 and 316.183 by a law enforcement officer and does not prohibit a law enforcement officer from issuing a uniform traffic citation for a violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183.
(14) A hearing under this section must be conducted under the procedures established by s. 316.0083(5) and as follows:
(a) The department must publish and make available electronically to each county and municipality a model request for hearing form to assist each county or municipality administering this section.
(b) A county or municipality electing to authorize traffic infraction enforcement officers to issue uniform traffic citations under subsection (6) must designate by resolution existing staff to serve as the clerk to the local hearing officer.
(c) A person, referred to in this subsection as the “petitioner,” who elects to request a hearing under subsection (3) must be scheduled for a hearing by the clerk to the local hearing officer. The clerk must furnish the petitioner with notice sent by first-class mail. Upon receipt of the notice, the petitioner may reschedule the hearing up to two times by submitting a written request to reschedule to the clerk at least 5 calendar days before the day of the scheduled hearing. The petitioner may cancel his or her appearance before the local hearing officer by paying the penalty assessed under subsection (2), plus the administrative costs established in s. 316.0083(5)(c), before the start of the hearing.
(d) All testimony at the hearing must be under oath and must be recorded. The local hearing officer must take testimony from a traffic infraction enforcement officer and the petitioner and may take testimony from others. The local hearing officer must review the photograph or video captured by the speed detection system and the evidence of the speed of the motor vehicle detected by the speed detection system made available under paragraph (2)(b). Formal rules of evidence do not apply, but due process must be observed and govern the proceedings.
(e) At the conclusion of the hearing, the local hearing officer must determine whether a violation under this section occurred and must uphold or dismiss the violation. The local hearing officer must issue a final administrative order including the determination and, if the notice of violation is upheld, must require the petitioner to pay the penalty previously assessed under subsection (2), and may also require the petitioner to pay county or municipal costs not to exceed the amount established in s. 316.0083(5)(e). The final administrative order must be mailed to the petitioner by first-class mail.
(f) An aggrieved party may appeal a final administrative order consistent with the process provided in s. 162.11.
(15)(a) A speed detection system in a school zone may not be used for remote surveillance. The collection of evidence by a speed detection system to enforce violations of ss. 316.1895 and 316.183, or user-controlled pan or tilt adjustments of speed detection system components, do not constitute remote surveillance. Recorded video or photographs collected as part of a speed detection system in a school zone may only be used to document violations of ss. 316.1895 and 316.183 and for purposes of determining criminal or civil liability for incidents captured by the speed detection system incidental to the permissible use of the speed detection system.
(b) Any recorded video or photograph obtained through the use of a speed detection system must be destroyed within 90 days after the final disposition of the recorded event. The vendor of a speed detection system must provide the county or municipality with written notice by December 31 of each year that such records have been destroyed in accordance with this subsection.
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, registered motor vehicle owner information obtained as a result of the operation of a speed detection system in a school zone is not the property of the manufacturer or vendor of the speed detection system and may be used only for the purposes of this section.
(16)(a) Each county or municipality that operates one or more speed detection systems must submit a report by October 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, to the department which identifies the public safety objectives used to identify a school zone for enforcement under this section, reports compliance with s. 316.0776(3)(c), and details the results of the speed detection system in the school zone and the procedures for enforcement. The information from counties and municipalities must be submitted in a form and manner determined by the department, which the department must make available to the counties and municipalities by August 1, 2023, and the department may require data components to be submitted quarterly. The report must include at least the following:
1. Information related to the location of each speed detection system, including the geocoordinates of the school zone, the directional approach of the speed detection system, the school name, the school level, the times the speed detection system was active, the restricted school zone speed limit enforced pursuant to s. 316.1895(5), the posted speed limit enforced at times other than those authorized by s. 316.1895(5), the date the systems were activated to enforce violations of ss. 316.1895 and 316.183, and, if applicable, the date the systems were deactivated.
2. The number of notices of violation issued, the number that were contested, the number that were upheld, the number that were dismissed, the number that were issued as uniform traffic citations, and the number that were paid.
3. Any other statistical data and information related to the procedures for enforcement which is required by the department to complete the report required under paragraph (c).
(b) Each county or municipality that operates a speed detection system is responsible for and must maintain its respective data for reporting purposes under this subsection for at least 2 years after such data is reported to the department.
(c) On or before December 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, the department must submit a summary report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives regarding the use of speed detection systems under this section, along with any legislative recommendations from the department. The summary report must include a review of the information submitted to the department by the counties and municipalities and must describe the enhancement of safety and enforcement programs.
