Wellington Florida’s Speed Cameras and a Familiar Constitutional Question

According to a recent report out of Wellington, Florida, the town’s new school-zone speed camera program has generated more than 14,000 citations in just four months. Local officials are defending the initiative as a safety measure designed to slow drivers down near schools. From a public-policy standpoint, that argument is easy to understand. From a constitutional and due-process standpoint, however, this story feels very familiar.

As a Palm Beach County criminal defense attorney, I will start with an important disclaimer: I have not yet seen one of these Wellington speed-camera cases come through my office. That alone does not mean the program is unlawful. But it does mean the story immediately reminded me of another traffic-enforcement experiment Florida drivers know all too well, the original red-light camera tickets that were eventually struck down as unconstitutional.

And that history matters.

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What Wellington, Florida, is Doing Now

The article linked above explains that Wellington, Florida, installed speed-enforcement cameras in school zones to automatically ticket drivers exceeding posted limits during designated hours. The citations are generated without a traffic stop, without an officer present, and without real-time interaction between the accused driver and law enforcement.

Town officials say the cameras are working exactly as intended. Thousands of tickets, they argue, show that drivers are slowing down, or at least that enforcement is finally consistent.

But volume alone does not equal legality.

When enforcement becomes automated, scaled, and profit-generating, courts inevitably ask tougher questions about due process, accountability, and who is actually being accused.

Why This Feels Like Red-Light Cameras All Over Again

Florida drivers have been here before.

When red-light cameras first rolled out statewide, municipalities made similar claims: fewer crashes, safer intersections, and neutral enforcement that removed officer discretion. Tickets flooded mailboxes across Florida.

Then came the lawsuits.

Courts ultimately found constitutional and statutory problems with how those tickets were issued, including:

• Lack of proper notice

• Improper delegation of police power to private vendors

• Due-process concerns when the accused could not confront a witness

• Confusion over who was legally responsible, the driver or the registered owner

In several cases, judges ruled that municipalities overstepped their authority. Many red-light tickets were dismissed. Some programs were shut down entirely.

That history is impossible to ignore when a new automated enforcement system appears.

Automated Enforcement Always Raises Due-Process Questions

Unlike a traditional speeding ticket, a camera citation removes key constitutional safeguards:

• No officer observes the driver

• No roadside interaction

• No contemporaneous explanation of the alleged violation

• No immediate opportunity to challenge the accusation

Instead, a notice arrives weeks later, often naming the registered owner, not necessarily the actual driver. That distinction matters.

Due process is not just a technicality. It is a core principle of Florida and federal law. Any system that shortcuts individualized determinations of guilt invites judicial scrutiny.

Safety vs. Revenue: The Uncomfortable Question

Officials insist the program is about safety. That may be true. But when 14,000 tickets are issued in four months, it is fair to ask whether enforcement design is actually encouraging compliance—or simply maximizing citations.

If drivers are unaware of camera placement, signage is unclear, or enforcement hours are confusing, then the program may punish rather than prevent.

Courts have historically been skeptical of systems that appear to blur the line between safety regulation and revenue generation.

What Happens Next?

At some point, one of these Wellington, Florida, citations will be challenged in court. When that happens, judges will likely revisit the same questions that doomed early red-light camera programs:

• Does the ordinance exceed municipal authority?

• Are drivers receiving constitutionally adequate notice?

• Is liability being imposed on the wrong person?

• Is a private company effectively exercising police power?

The answers will determine whether this program survives long-term scrutiny, or becomes another cautionary tale.

What Drivers Should Do Right Now

If you receive one of these citations, do not assume it is automatically valid. Automated enforcement systems are often far more vulnerable to legal challenge than traditional traffic stops.

Every citation should be evaluated based on:

• Signage compliance

• Timing of the alleged violation

• Identification of the driver

• Statutory authority

• Constitutional due-process protections

Just because a ticket arrives in the mail does not mean it must be paid without question.

Final Thought on Wellington's New Speed Camera

Wellington’s speed cameras may be new, but the legal issues they raise are not. Florida has already watched one generation of traffic-camera enforcement collapse under constitutional scrutiny.

Whether this program meets a different fate remains to be seen. But history suggests one thing clearly: automation does not eliminate the Constitution.

Contact Our Palm Beach County Criminal Defense Attorney

If you have received a camera-based citation and want to understand your rights, speak with an experienced criminal lawyer before simply paying it and moving on. Traffic enforcement should protect the public—not quietly erode due process along the way.

We have years of experience handling criminal defense cases in Palm Beach County and the surrounding community. We are here to help you and your loved ones protect your future and fight for the best possible outcome.

Contact our office online, or if you need immediate assistance, give us a call at (561) 671-5995 today!