St. Cloud Police Chief Doug Goerke told the City Council at their Sept. 10 meeting that the city’s 11 school zone speed cameras collected $562,940 between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026— even though active ticketing stopped in early November.
Of that total, Goerke said the city received $337,764 for program costs and public safety; Osceola County schools got $67,552.80 for security and student safety; the state revenue department took $112,588; crossing guards received $28,147; and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Criminal Justice and Training Fund received $16,888.20.
The cameras outside six city schools issued 7,207 violations in the short window between the start of school in August 2025 and the enforcement pause three months later. Goerke stressed that revenue was never the goal.
“I hope we make zero dollars on this program. Absolutely zero,” he said. “That would mean that people are not speeding in our school zones.”
The chief explained that citations trigger only when vehicles are traveling 11 mph or more over the speed limit. He cited speeds of 60, 51 and 50 mph clocked in a 15-mph zone near St. Cloud Middle and High School on Michigan Avenue, noting the risk to students and crossing guards.
The November pause stemmed from legal questions over camera placement—whether devices must sit strictly inside a school zone or can capture vehicles simply passing through it. Similar challenges have surfaced in programs across Central Florida, prompting state-level debate as lawmakers and agencies seek clearer rules.
“These are the stumbling blocks that we went through with the red-light cameras a considerable time ago, and case law came out on it that gave a lot of guidance,” Goerke said.
With the camera program on hold, the department has stepped up patrols in school zones— records show SCPD officers issued 215 citations and 130 warnings in the first two weeks of this school year alone. Traditional tickets carry steeper penalties— $168 or more, plus three points on a driver’s license— compared with the $100 civil camera citation, which carries no points.
Council Member Kolby Urban underscored the urgency of restoring the cameras.
“This is vitally important,” he said. “We’ve got to get this back online as soon as possible,” adding that he was troubled by the high speeds recorded near busy school zones.
The conversation then turned to Flock automated license plate readers, which face state and national scrutiny over data use, access, retention and oversight. The St. Cloud Police Department recently suspended use of the readers while the state finalizes safety standards governing them.
Critics argue that networked license-plate systems can build a broader record of people’s movements that risks misuse if oversight is weak. Supporters counter that license plates on public roads have long carried a diminished expectation of privacy under state and federal law.
Goerke said the department is reviewing and tightening its policies so that access requires a case number and a two-person redundant check.
“Once we feel that we are confident in everything that we’re doing … we will look to reactivate them in the areas that we are permitted to do so,” he said, pointing to the readers’ role in solving cases.
“Some of the things that we’ve solved using these cameras are absolutely amazing. Maddie Soto and Stephan Sterns— we would not have found that vehicle driving on our roads if it were not for our license plate readers.”
He called the technology “the future of public safety,” provided it is used effectively, safely and with transparency.
