The Fort Walton Beach City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to deny a request by Okaloosa County to refund school-zone fines issued by a camera on Hollywood Boulevard near Fort Walton Beach High School, arguing the city had the legal authority to install and operate the camera.
RELATED: FWB School Zone cameras slash speeding by 95% in first year
Council members said the city had already turned off the camera and refunded any tickets after the county raised concerns about roadway ownership. The dispute centers on whether Hollywood Boulevard is under city or county control.
What Happened
The council voted unanimously to approve a motion directing staff to respond to the county, stating that the city has already refunded any fines issued after the county’s resolution objecting to the camera.
The camera in question was turned off, and the city will not issue broader refunds.
City Manager Jason Davis said the camera had already been shut down before Okaloosa County Commissioner Trey Goodwin’s letter. Davis said,
“The City’s decision to turn off the subject cameras in March is based solely on a good-faith effort to work out the ownership issues with the County.”
With ownership of Hollywood Boulevard still in question, the city and county are jointly funding a title search to determine ownership.
City staff noted, “Neither City nor County staff are confident the title search will return conclusive ownership,” during the meeting.
Councilman David Schmitt raised concerns about refunding citations, noting his desire to remain in “lockstep” with the county.
Revenue from each citation is distributed among four recipients: the City of Fort Walton Beach, the Office of the Governor of Florida, the Okaloosa County School District, and the camera vendor RedSpeed.
City officials noted that if the city refunded the “entire” amount of a citation, it would be refunding money that has already been distributed to four separate entities.
Councilman Payne Walker urged transparency about the refunded violations, expressing concern over the perception that the violations in question were not refunded. Walker said,
“I don’t want it to grow into … that we’re not paying anybody back,” Councilman Walker explained. “The city and county have agreed to jointly fund the title search, so they’re not sure it’s their property.”
Florida authorized school zone speed cameras statewide in 2023 through House Bill 657, also known as the School Zone Speed Detection System Program. These cameras can issue citations when a vehicle exceeds the posted school-zone speed by 10 miles per hour. Violations are subject to a $100 civil penalty unless you try to fight the ticket in court. The municipality can then tack on additional court costs.
Supporters of school-zone camera enforcement say the cameras improve student safety around schools, while critics contend the cameras are simply a tool for generating revenue for governments and vendors. For Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa County, the immediate question remains unresolved. Who controls Hollywood Boulevard?
