TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County has hired five paid hearing officers to oversee appeals of red-light and school zone speed camera citations, replacing volunteer special magistrates who had been serving as neutral decision-makers in those cases.
The new hearing officers are all members of the Florida Bar in good standing. County officials said having attorneys hear the cases could help when appeals involve complex issues of state law.
County documents estimate that the hearing officers will cost about $22,500 a year. They will be paid $250 for the first three hours of a hearing session and $100 for each additional hour, with pay capped at $500 per docket…