Sunny Isles Beach Police Expand Use of Technology

Published on June 30, 2025

 The Sunny Isles Beach Police Department is expanding its use of technology to improve safety across the city. These updates include the expansion of the City’s Intersection Safety Camera Program, deploying an autonomous police drone, and exploring the possibility of new school zone speed enforcement cameras.

 Intersection Safety Camera Program Expansion

The City’s existing Intersection Safety Camera Program currently monitors several key locations:

• 193 Street and Collins Avenue (southbound only)
• 183 Street and Collins Avenue (northbound and southbound)
• Eastbound Sunny Isles Boulevard at the signaled pedestrian crosswalk (200 block)
• 159 Street and Collins Avenue (north and southbound)

Building on this, the program will be expanded to include two additional intersections:

• 174 Street and Collins Avenue (northbound and southbound)
• Sunny Isles Boulevard and Collins Avenue (northbound and southbound)

These locations were chosen because of high traffic and frequent violations. The new cameras are expected to be installed in July or August, pending FDOT permits.

Since introducing the Intersection Safety Camera Program last year, more than 19,000 citations have been issued, mostly to cars belonging to non-residents.

For more information on the Intersection Safety Camera Program, visit sibfl.gov/red-light-cameras.

Autonomous Police Drone

Sunny Isles Beach will soon become the first city in Florida to formally launch an autonomous police drone program. This new technology will be used to respond to emergencies, as well as monitor large crowds and traffic.

The drone will be managed by our newly established drone unit and is equipped with infrared and thermal cameras. The drone will automatically launch when a dispatcher puts in a call, allowing officers to see live video on their phone. This will ensure that officers are not walking into a situation blindly. The Police Department has already been using a remote-controlled drone for beach enforcement and recently used it to monitor religious institutions in the wake of the terror attack in Boulder, Colorado.

School Speed Zone Cameras

To help protect students, the City is studying the possibility of installing new school zone cameras along Atlantic Boulevard near Norman S. Edelcup Sunny Isles Beach K-8. These cameras would monitor both directions of traffic, with the goal of slowing down drivers amid concerns over speeding.

These updates are part of a larger effort by the Police Department to use smart technology and improve safety citywide. The City also uses facial recognition and Visual Firearm Detection technology as part of its commitment to keeping the community safe.