Today is the 25.03.2026, and in a significant move, Okaloosa County commissioners have decided to ban red light and speed detection cameras on county roads. This comes as part of a resolution passed by the board, with Commissioner Chairman Trey Goodwin citing a recent ruling from Broward County Judge Steven Deluca. The judge deemed these cameras “unconstitutional,” highlighting that citations issued by such devices are illegal since they force the accused to prove their innocence, which conflicts with the fundamental principle of “innocent until proven guilty.”
Goodwin expressed that the resolution was necessary to protect due process. Crestview’s Mayor JB Whitten echoed the sentiment, noting that the ban could prevent the installation of additional cameras. Currently, there are no red light or speed cameras on county-maintained roads, but municipalities such as Crestview, Shalimar, Niceville, and Fort Walton Beach still utilize them.
Debate Among Officials
The conversation around the resolution has been quite heated. While some residents and officials support the ban, others, including Mayor Whitten, have raised concerns about public safety, particularly regarding speed control around schools. During a recent test phase at Davidson Middle School, there were a staggering 847 violations in just 30 days, with one driver clocked at a dangerous 56 mph in a 20 mph zone. Whitten pointed out that only 4 out of 4,100 tickets issued last year were appealed, suggesting that the enforcement isn’t as draconian as some may believe.
Interestingly, Goodwin mentioned that only one camera had been removed so far—a speed detection camera outside Pryor Middle School. This camera had been installed on a county-maintained road without the necessary authorization from the county commissioners. As it stands, Commissioner Paul Mixon was the lone voice against the resolution, advocating for municipalities to retain control over their own decisions regarding traffic enforcement.
Looking Ahead
As it stands, Goodwin anticipates that a local court may soon weigh in on the legality of existing cameras, which could dramatically alter their status. This ongoing debate reflects broader concerns about due process and the balance between traffic enforcement and civil liberties. The resolution specifically applies to county-maintained roads, leaving room for municipalities to operate their own traffic monitoring systems if they choose to do so.
For further details on the background of this issue, you can check out the full article from WEARTV. The discussion surrounding red light and speed cameras continues to be a hot topic in Okaloosa County, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out in the coming months.