County Won't Allow Auto Ticketing Cameras On Its Roads

    A split vote by the Lake County Commission on Tuesday means plans to put automated traffic enforcement devices on county roads inside the city of Eustis won’t happen, at least for now. Commissioners Josh Blake and Leslie Campione opposed the plan to allow cameras on Orange Avenue that would issue $100 tickets to vehicles traveling over 10 miles per hour over the speed limit in school zones.
   Commissioners Sean Parks and Doug Shields supported the effort, but without a majority vote the plan will not proceed. However, the city is able to continue to develop plans to put the cameras on city streets inside school zones, and the issue could come back to the commission on a future date in an attempt to secure a majority approval. The city is also seeking to put cameras on SR 19, which falls under state jurisdiction.
   Eustis city officials voiced support for the program, led by department chief Craig Capri, who said the program was not about earning money for the city, but rather about child safety.
   "It's not about money, it's about safety," Capri said. "It's about saving the lives of kids."
   The chief did not share any data that would show children having been struck inside school zones, however.
   According to city manager Tom Carrino presented the commission with information that the Eustis City Commission has instructed staff to pursue the program though the city has yet to formally put it into action. Carrino said the city is looking to eventually put cameras inside all school zones, which would write tickets for any speeds over 10 miles per hour in the area, regardless of the time of day. No formal agreements have been approved as of yet, however.
   Commissioner Josh Blake voiced strong concern over the program, citing concerns over public surveillance.
   “Technology has been abused by government. Policing is not something I’m in favor of outsourcing.”
   Blake was echoing Campione, who, while voicing support for child safety, said the camera program raises concerns. Especially a new law that was just passed earlier this year.
   “Just because the state of Florida decided it was a good law doesn’t mean it’s a good law,” she said, adding “I’ve got too many reservations” to support the plan.
   Campione also asked Eustis city officials present at the meeting to be thoughtful about the prospects of the plan going forward.
   “I would caution the city on this one.”
   Capri pushed back strongly against the idea the program is anything but appropriate.
   “We’re doing it for your kids. We have to embrace technology… to save our kids.”
   Capri stated his department was fully staffed and unable to dedicate more officers to police zones, due to other requirements of the department including social work, accident coverage, and broader community enforcement.
   “We wrote the most tickets in Lake County last year,” he said.
   Commissioner Doug Shields voiced support for the program.
   “If there’s something that we can try, I don’t know why we wouldn’t try it.”