Speed Cameras in Tampa

Red light cameras hillsborough county and Tampa

Tampa operates the Stop On Red Tampa intersection safety program, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office operates a separate red-light camera program in parts of the county outside the city. These are not speed cameras. They record vehicles that enter an intersection after the signal is already red, and each event is reviewed by law enforcement before a notice is issued.

Red light cameras in Tampa are concentrated on major crash and traffic corridors rather than on every signal. The city list includes many approaches on North Nebraska Avenue, East Hillsborough Avenue, West Waters Avenue, Busch Boulevard, Fowler Avenue, Kennedy Boulevard, Dale Mabry Highway, Gandy Boulevard, Westshore Boulevard and 50th Street at Adamo Drive. County-operated red-light camera approaches include Bloomingdale Avenue at Bell Shoals Road, Fletcher Avenue at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Sligh Avenue at Habana Avenue, Waters Avenue at Anderson Road and Waters Avenue at Dale Mabry Highway.

A camera flash does not automatically mean a ticket. Tampa says officers review the photos and video, including the light state and vehicle position, before a citation decision is made.

Speed cameras Tampa drivers should know about

Speed cameras in Tampa are limited to school-zone speed safety cameras. The city announced camera enforcement for selected school zones beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, with notices of violation starting after an education period. The initial Tampa school list included Alexander Elementary, B.T. Washington Elementary, Ferrell Girls Preparatory Academy, Orange Grove Middle Magnet, Potter Elementary, Shaw Elementary, Sulphur Springs Elementary, Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary, Young Middle Magnet and Lomax Elementary, with other approved schools possible later.

Hillsborough County speed cameras are also used by the Sheriff’s Office in approved school zones. HCSO lists 29 county schools with speed detection cameras, including several Tampa-address schools such as Bay Crest Elementary, Buchanan Middle, Citrus Park Elementary, Clair Mel Elementary, Claywell Elementary, Deer Park Elementary, Mort Elementary, Plato Academy, Sgt. Smith Middle and Town ‘N Country Elementary.

Florida law allows school-zone speed detection systems for vehicles traveling more than 10 mph over the applicable school-zone or posted speed limit. The city’s school-zone cameras are active only on school days during official school-zone periods: before and after breakfast programs, before and after the start of school, throughout regular school hours and after dismissal. Tampa says cameras do not operate when school is out of session, including holidays and weather closures. For HCSO zones, follow the posted school-zone signs and flashing beacons, because the applicable limit changes by time and sign display.

• No general citywide speed camera program outside school zones
• No confirmed average-speed camera program in Tampa
• No confirmed local automated work-zone speed camera program

Tickets, delivery and contesting a notice

Camera notices are mailed to the registered owner. A Tampa red-light Notice of Violation carries a $158 statutory penalty and no points if handled at the notice stage. The owner may pay, request a hearing before a local hearing officer, or submit a sworn affidavit if a statutory exception applies, such as the vehicle being in another person’s care or having been stolen. If the notice is ignored, it can become a Uniform Traffic Citation, which can bring higher costs, court handling and possible licence consequences.

For HCSO red-light notices, the county gives similar options: pay the $158 penalty, submit an affidavit, or request a hearing. HCSO states that failure to pay a red-light notice can lead to a Uniform Traffic Citation and an increased fine. If a hearing officer finds a violation occurred, additional costs may be imposed.

School-zone speed camera notices are different. The standard camera fine is $100 for more than 10 mph over the applicable limit. Florida law requires the notice to include the date, time, location, recorded speed, speed limit and image evidence, and it allows the owner to pay, submit an affidavit or request a hearing within the stated deadline. These camera notices do not add points, but ignoring a notice can move the case into a citation process with court costs.

Local speed limits and camera planning

Florida’s municipal default speed limit is 30 mph unless signs show a different limit. Tampa has reduced speeds on some city streets through its Vision Zero and speed-limit reduction work, and local residential or neighborhood streets may be posted lower, commonly 20-25 mph where signed. Larger arterials are often posted higher, and limited-access highways in the Tampa area can be posted up to 70 mph, so the posted sign controls.

School zones are the places where speed enforcement can change most quickly. A reduced school-zone limit may apply when flashing lights are active or during posted times, while the regular posted limit applies at other times. In camera zones, the enforcement threshold is tied to being more than 10 mph over the limit that applies at that moment.

Plan your route before you drive, especially if you pass schools on North Tampa, Town ‘N Country, Sulphur Springs, East Tampa or South Tampa corridors. If you use the Speed Camera Radar Detector app, set alerts before starting the trip and still rely on posted signs, signals and school-zone beacons while driving.