Panama City ended its school zone speed cameras after 3,000-plus notices. Bay High zone tickets are void and 95 drivers get $100 back; other notices still count.

Panama City has ended its school zone speed camera program, about six weeks after cameras began issuing $100 notices. Every notice from the Bay High School zone is now void, and 95 drivers who already paid are due refunds.

The Panama City Commission approved ending the program at its Tuesday evening meeting on Sept. 22. The recommendation came from Police Chief Mark Smith, with the support of City Manager Jonathan Hayes, according to the city’s announcement.

The city said the reason was “repeated operational and administrative issues” with the company that ran the cameras, RedSpeed.

“Based on the administration and equipment issues we have experienced, we no longer have that confidence in the current vendor,” Smith said in the announcement.

Bay High notices are void

The city’s School Speed Zone Enforcement page says any notice for speeding in the Bay High School zone “is invalid.” Those notices will be dismissed automatically, whatever date they were issued.

According to the page, RedSpeed found that the cameras on the Bay High School corridor had been installed in the state right-of-way without the required permit. The page says 95 people had already paid the $100 penalty and will need refunds. It does not say how or when the refunds will be paid.

How the program ran

From the city’s announcement and its enforcement page:

  • Feb. 17, 2026: a warning period began, so drivers could see their speed without a fine.
  • Aug. 10: full enforcement began. Cameras flagged drivers going more than 10 mph over the school zone limit.
  • Aug. 10 to Sept. 17: the Police Department approved more than 3,000 notices.
  • Sept. 17: the department stopped approving notices.
  • Sept. 22: the City Commission ended the program.

The city said it used its right to end the contract for convenience within a 30-day window. It said the equipment will come down “within a reasonable time.”

The nine school zones

The cameras covered these zones:

Speeding has not gone away, police say

The Police Department said the decision “is not a reflection of the importance of school-zone safety.” It said there is “a significant, ongoing speeding problem” in Panama City’s school zones and that it still supports automated enforcement in principle.

“We continue to believe there is a very apparent speeding problem in our school zones, and we support efforts to address that problem,” Smith said.

Officers will keep up traditional traffic enforcement around schools, the city said. It added that it will keep looking at other ways to make school zones safer.

What it means for you

  • No new camera notices will be issued.
  • A notice from before Sept. 17 still counts unless it is from the Bay High School zone. You must pay it or contest it.
  • To contest a notice, request a hearing within 30 days of the date it was issued. The notice itself lists the steps and deadlines.
  • To pay or check a notice, use the portal printed on it or call RedSpeed at 1-844-870-2813. The city says that if a citation number brings up nothing, the notice was dropped or never fully processed.
  • If you paid a Bay High School zone notice, you are one of the 95 due a refund. The city has not yet said how refunds will be paid; we will update this story when it does.

School zone speed limits still apply without the cameras. See our schools guide for Bay District Schools, and our Police and Fire log for the department’s releases.

Frequently asked questions

Do I still have to pay a Panama City school zone speed camera ticket?

Yes, if it was issued before Sept. 17, 2026, and was not in the Bay High School zone. The city says ending the program does not cancel those notices. Bay High School zone notices are invalid and will be dismissed.

Why were the Bay High School zone tickets dismissed?

The city says the vendor, RedSpeed, found the cameras on the Bay High School corridor had been installed in the state right-of-way without the required permit. The 95 drivers who already paid the $100 penalty are due refunds.

Which Panama City school zones had speed cameras?

Nine: Bay High, Covenant Christian School, Jinks Middle, Lucille Moore Elementary, Northside Elementary, Oscar Patterson, Palm Bay Elementary, Rosenwald High and St. John Catholic School.