Tampa Bay 28 investigative reporter Katie LaGrone says a Hillsborough County magistrate who spent months ruling on school speed zone camera appeals has reached a breaking point, and he’s now speaking publicly about what he calls a system built to fail drivers. In LaGrone’s report, the magistrate says Florida’s controversial new camera program isn’t just confusing – it’s unfair, vague, and structured in a way that can’t reliably prove the violations it’s charging people for.
“I said enough is enough,” the magistrate tells LaGrone as the story opens.
His name is Dr. Tom Santarlas, and LaGrone identifies him as the impartial hearing officer appointed to decide whether a $100 school-zone camera fine should be upheld or dismissed when a driver appeals…