Speed Cameras To Begin Enforcement Near Alexandria Schools

ALEXANDRIA, VA — After a warning period, Alexandria's speed cameras near schools will be checking for violations in the new school year.

According to the city, the speed cameras near four schools will start with a warning period when the school year begins on Monday, Aug. 21 through Sunday, Sept. 17. After the period with warning violations, speed cameras will begin issuing fines for violations on Monday, Sept. 18.

The locations of the speed cameras are Seminary Road between Kenmore Avenue and North Jordan Street near Francis C. Hammond Middle School; North Beauregard Street between North Highview Lane and Reading Avenue near John Adams Elementary School and Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School; and Mount Vernon Avenue between Braddock Road and Luray Avenue near George Washington Middle School. Speed cameras will be active when signage is flashing in these school zones, indicating a 15 mph speed limit.

A speeding violation could result in a maximum $100 fine. The speed cameras will record speed violations, but a law enforcement officer will check to confirm a violation, and violations will be mailed to the vehicle owner, lessee or renter.

The city previously held a warning period at the end of the last school year, which resulted in more than 3,500 warning violations issued to drivers within two weeks.

Alexandria City Council had unanimously approved an ordinance allowing speed cameras in October 2022, as 2020 Virginia legislation allowed speed cameras in school zones and highway work zones. 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.