Wellington's 20 school zone speed cameras issued 21,937 notices in their first school year, 5,290 at Wellington High. Drop-off speeds fell at 11 schools.
Wellington’s school zone speed cameras issued 21,937 notices of violation in their first school year. More than 1 in 5 came from the zone outside Wellington High School.
The figures are in the village’s first annual report on the School Zone Speed Program. State law requires it to go before the Village Council each October. Staff will present it at the council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Village Hall.
The report also shows drivers slowing down. Typical drop-off speeds fell at all 11 schools between April 2024 and April 2026.
How the cameras work
Enforcement started Sept. 15, 2025. The cameras were switched off for the summer and restarted Aug. 10, 2026. The report says:
- there are 20 cameras in 10 school zones, covering 11 schools
- 19 are enforcing now; one eastbound camera at Polo Park Middle School is off because of roundabout construction
- during arrival and dismissal, the cameras enforce the 20 mph school zone limit
- for the rest of the school day, they enforce the normal posted limit, which ranges from 35 to 45 mph
- a notice is issued only when a vehicle is going 11 mph or more over the limit in force
About 69% of notices were for speeding outside the 20 mph hours, while school was in session. The other 31% came during the 20 mph periods.
Where the tickets were issued
Emerald Cove Middle and Equestrian Trails Elementary share one zone. The busiest month was October 2025, with 5,100 notices. The quietest was March 2026, with 889.
Speeds at drop-off
The report compares the 85th percentile speed at morning drop-off, the speed that 85% of drivers stay at or under, in April 2024 and April 2026.
| School | April 2024 | April 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellington High | 40.8 mph | 21.2 mph | down 47.9% |
| Charter School Elementary | 39.9 mph | 23.4 mph | down 41.4% |
| Elbridge Gale Elementary | 28.4 mph | 22.4 mph | down 21.1% |
| Wellington Elementary | 35.5 mph | 30.0 mph | down 15.5% |
| Equestrian Trails Elementary | 29.1 mph | 25.3 mph | down 13.1% |
| New Horizons Elementary | 26.2 mph | 23.2 mph | down 11.5% |
| Binks Forest Elementary | 30.9 mph | 27.6 mph | down 10.4% |
| Polo Park Middle | 41.1 mph | 37.4 mph | down 9.0% |
| Emerald Cove Middle | 34.4 mph | 31.3 mph | down 8.9% |
| Wellington Landings Middle | 35.9 mph | 33.3 mph | down 7.2% |
| Panther Run Elementary | 28.2 mph | 26.8 mph | down 5.1% |
The average drop-off reduction was 17.4%, the report says. Midday speeds fell an average of 5.4% and afternoon speeds 5.7%.
The report also counts crashes in the village’s school zones: 70 in 2023, 60 in 2024, 67 in 2025 and 55 in 2026. It does not say which months each year covers. Of the 55 in 2026, the most were near Palm Beach Central High School (26) and Polo Park Middle School (13).
Where the money went
From July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, drivers paid 14,458 violations, worth $1,445,837. The report shows how that money was split:
| Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|
| Village of Wellington | $722,698 |
| Florida Department of Revenue, general fund | $289,140 |
| Camera vendor fee | $144,859 |
| School District of Palm Beach County | $173,484 |
| Sheriff’s Office school crossing guard program | $72,285 |
| Florida Department of Revenue, second state fund | $43,371 |
Wellington’s share pays for public safety services from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, which polices the village, according to the report.
Of all notices issued, 1,567 were dismissed, mostly because the detected speed was within the system’s margin of error. Another 4,339 were turned into uniform traffic citations, and 556 went to collections.
What it means for you
- Know the hours. Cameras at elementary schools enforce from 7 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.; middle schools run later, to 4:35 p.m. Outside the 20 mph window, the normal limit still applies while school is in session.
- The threshold is 11 mph over. That is 31 mph in a 20 mph zone, or 51 mph on a 40 mph road during the school day.
- Got a notice? The village’s report points drivers to its school zone safety page for details of the program. Six notices were contested in the first year, the report shows.
- Have your say. The council meeting Tuesday includes public comment, and a resident has asked to give a presentation on speed zones. Other items on the agenda are in our preview of the meeting.
For schools and their attendance zones, see our Wellington schools guide.
Have your say