Speed Camera Enforcement To Start In Alexandria After Warning Period

ALEXANDRIA, VA — After a warning period, the City of Alexandria’s school zone speed cameras will begin enforcement Monday with the potential for $100 citations.

The speed cameras were introduced for a warning period at the end of last school year and at the start of this school year. The warning period will end on Friday, Sept. 15, and citations will start on Monday, Sept. 18.

The speed camera locations are near Francis C. Hammond Middle School (Seminary Road, between Kenmore Avenue and North Jordan Street), near John Adams Elementary School and Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School (North Beauregard Street, between North Highview Lane and Reading Avenue) and near George Washington Middle School (Mount Vernon Avenue, between Braddock Road and Luray Avenue).

The speed cameras will only be active when school zone speed limit signs are flashing. The speed limits in the school zones are 15 mph when the signs are flashing. Violations can result in a $100 fine sent by mail to the vehicle owner. The speed cameras will record speed violations, but a law enforcement officer will check to confirm a violation.

Localities like Alexandria are allowed to use speed cameras in school zones and highway work zones under 2020 Virginia legislation. Alexandria City Council had approved a local speed camera ordinance in October 2022, and funding for five speed cameras was included in the last city budget.

City government cited the effectiveness of speed cameras at reducing speeding violations, according to the city's speed camera web page. Speed cameras are one of the initiatives in the city’s Vision Zero plan to eliminate fatal and severe crashes by 2028 and Safe Routes to School program to boost safety for walking and biking to school.

As required by the Virginia law, signage is posted to inform drivers where speed cameras are present. In the two-week warning period at the end of last school year, more than 3,500 warning notices were issued to drivers.

According to the city government, speed camera locations were chosen based on factors like crash history, traffic volumes, vehicle speeds, and the age and number of students.