Westlake Speed Cameras on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road: What Drivers Should Know

Speed Cameras and Plate Readers on Seminole Pratt: Safety or Surveillance?

Drivers on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, the main north-south road just west of Wellington, will soon pass school zone speed cameras near Seminole Ridge High School. On Oct. 6, 2026, the Westlake City Council voted 5-0 to approve the cameras, along with automated license plate readers at the city's entrances. City leaders say a traffic study proved a serious speeding problem around a high school. Others question the fines and the privacy cost of tracking license plates. Here's what was approved and what each side has said.

Westlake's cameras at a glance

The vote: 5-0 by the Westlake City Council on Oct. 6, 2026, piggybacking on a City of Plantation contract with RedSpeed Florida LLC
Speed cameras: On Seminole Pratt Whitney Road near Seminole Ridge High School, during the school day
Plate readers: Expected at the city's north and south entrances on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, separate from the speed cameras
Fine: $100 under Florida's school zone camera law, only for speeds more than 10 mph over the limit
Timing: A 30-day warning period first; the city manager expects tickets to start by January at the latest

What the traffic study found

RedSpeed studied the road on Sept. 10 and 11, the Town-Crier reported. Its findings:

1,107 drivers went at least 11 mph over the 20 mph school zone limit during morning arrival (6:50 to 7:40 a.m.) and afternoon dismissal (2:30 to 3:30 p.m.).
Another 373 drivers went 11 mph or more over the regular 45 mph limit, including five at 69 mph or faster and one at 80 mph.
An average of 17,919 vehicles a day passed through, with about 735 daily violations, or 4 percent, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

How school zone cameras work in Florida

A 2023 state law (HB 657) lets counties and cities use speed cameras in school zones. According to the Florida Senate's bill analysis:

Only big speeders get tickets: a citation can be issued only for speeds more than 10 mph over the limit. RedSpeed says its cameras trigger at 11 mph over.
Limited hours: the reduced school zone limit is enforced from 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after the start and end of the school day, and the regular limit during the rest of the school session. Westlake City Manager Howard Brown Jr. said that's how the cameras will run.
Fines and where they go: each violation is $100. Of that, $60 stays with the city, $20 goes to the state, $12 to the county school district, $5 to a school crossing guard program and $3 to a criminal justice training fund.
Warnings and appeals: a new program must give at least 30 days of public notice with warnings only, and drivers can request a hearing to contest a ticket.

The case for the cameras

Protecting students. "Anyone driving 80 miles an hour is putting our children directly in danger," Mayor JohnPaul O'Connor said, calling the level of speeding "disgraceful."
Evidence first. "I wanted the study because it is important for people to see actual evidence of a problem," said Vice Mayor Greg Langowski, who called the results "eye-opening." Councilman Erik Gleason, a retired police commander, said the numbers showed "kids getting to and from the high school — their safety is in danger."
Changing behavior. O'Connor said the tickets are "not a cash grab by the city. This is about correcting bad behavior." Councilman Gary Werner added, "I believe it will have an impact on bringing speeding down."
Plate readers help find people. "The opportunity to save a kidnapped child or see an elderly person brought home safely — far outweighs that issue," Gleason said of privacy concerns. "In such cases, time is critical."

The case for caution

Privacy and surveillance. Plate readers log every car that passes, not just speeders. Citing privacy concerns and reports of misuse, the Florida Department of Transportation revoked approvals for plate readers on state highways on Aug. 31, 2026, and ordered them removed within 30 days, The Capitolist reported. In September, the Palm Beach County Commission paused new permits for plate readers on county roads while leaving existing cameras in place.
Who controls the data. Gleason said the plate-reader data will be controlled jointly by the city and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. How long data is kept and who can see it are the kinds of questions that drove the state's pullback.
The vendor wrote the study. RedSpeed both conducted the traffic study and will supply the cameras. Brown said he sees no conflict of interest, noting that giving false information to a Florida government body is a felony.
Fines add up. Westlake keeps $60 of every $100 ticket. City leaders say the goal is safety, not revenue, but for drivers caught in the school zone, a $100 ticket is a real cost.

Why Wellington drivers should care

Seminole Pratt Whitney Road connects Southern Blvd. to Westlake, The Acreage and Seminole Ridge High School, and plenty of Wellington residents drive it for school, work and errands. Once ticketing starts, the cameras will apply to anyone speeding through the school zone, wherever they live. Watch for the warning period, likely before January.

What do you think?

Are speed cameras and plate readers a smart way to keep students safe on Seminole Pratt, or do they go too far on privacy and fines? For more on traffic and safety debates nearby, see Wellington's e-bike rules and why Lyons Road dead-ends.

Frequently asked questions

Where are Westlake's new speed cameras?

On Seminole Pratt Whitney Road near Seminole Ridge High School. The Westlake City Council approved them 5-0 on Oct. 6, 2026.

How fast do you have to go to get a school zone camera ticket in Florida?

Under the 2023 state law, a citation can be issued only for speeds more than 10 mph over the limit. RedSpeed, Westlake's vendor, says its cameras trigger at 11 mph over.

How much is a school zone speed camera ticket in Florida?

$100. Under state law, $60 goes to the city or county, $20 to the state, $12 to the county school district, $5 to a school crossing guard program and $3 to a criminal justice training fund.

When will Westlake start issuing speed camera tickets?

After a 30-day warning period. Westlake's city manager said he expects ticketing to begin in January 2027 at the latest.