You've mis-cited the statute. I'm guessing you meant
316.0777(2)(b), which reads as follows:
"At the discretion of the Department of Transportation, an automated license plate recognition system may be installed within the right-of-way, as defined in s. 334.03(21), of a road on the State Highway System when installed at the request of a law enforcement agency for the purpose of collecting active criminal intelligence information or active criminal investigative information as defined in s. 119.011(3). An automated license plate recognition system may not be used to issue a notice of violation for a traffic infraction or a uniform traffic citation. Such installation must be in accordance with placement and installation guidelines developed by the Department of Transportation. An automated license plate recognition system must be removed within 30 days after the Department of Transportation notifies the requesting law enforcement agency that such removal must occur."
I disagree with your interpretation that this sub-section contains a blanket prohibition against the use of cameras to issue traffic citations.
For starters, I assume that, since the term "State Highway System" is in all caps, it has a specialized meaning. Unfortunately, no definition is contained in section 316.0777 or in
section 316.003.
Putting that aside, and assuming that the road near a school zone where you were driving was part of the "State Highway System," section 316.0777(2)(b) only prohibits the issuance of citations as a result the "automated license plate recognition system" described in that section - i.e., as defined in section 316.0777(1)(c): "a system of one or more mobile or fixed high-speed cameras
combined with computer algorithms to convert images of license plates into computer-readable data" (emphasis added).
I suggest you consult with a local attorney.
