Panama City police lose trust in school zone camera vendor; program’s future unclear

The Panama City Police Department says it no longer has enough trust in the vendor running the city’s automated school zone camera program to keep participating under the current arrangement, according to a city notice dated Sept. 24, 2026.

The notice, posted on the city’s CivicAlerts page, reads in part: “The Panama City Police Department has determined that it no longer has sufficient trust and confidence in the vendor operating the program to continue its participation under the current arrangement.” The text available for this report does not name the vendor or give a reason beyond that sentence.

Before that notice, the city announced that full enforcement of its automated photo enforcement program would begin Aug. 10, 2026, in nine designated school zones throughout the community, according to the city’s website. That announcement does not mention the September notice or any change to the program.

What the city has not said

As of Oct. 18, 2026, the city’s published material does not say:

• The name of the vendor.
• Whether the cameras are still issuing citations.
• The date the cameras would be turned off, if they are.
• What happens to citations already issued.
• Whether a replacement vendor or program is planned.

This report is based on the first sentence of the Sept. 24 notice. Readers who received citations or who need to know whether enforcement is active should contact the Panama City Police Department directly.