Speed Camera Pilot Program Approved By Fairfax County Supervisors

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A speed camera pilot program is expected to launch in early 2023 after approval by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

Localities gained authority to use speed monitoring cameras in school zones and highway work zones under 2020 Virginia legislation. The legislation states a driver traveling at speeds 10 or more above the highway work zone or school crossing zone speed limit by a monitoring device could get a civil penalty up to $100. A violation from a monitoring devices cannot add points to a driver's license record.

Fairfax County's pilot program will add speed monitoring devices in nine school zones and one construction zone. The county plans to share locations of the speed cameras through signage and on its website.

"These cameras will help to protect pedestrians, especially around some of our most congested and vulnerable locations," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay in a statement. "We do not want revenue from this program. Instead, we are looking forward to seeing how it enhances safety in Fairfax County."

The ordinance sets out different civil penalty amounts, which cannot exceed $100 under the state legislation. A $50 civil penalty would be associated with speeds 10 to 14 mph over the speed limit, a $75 penalty for speeds 15 to 19 mph over the speed limit and a $100 penalty for speeds 20 mph or more over the speed limit.

Capt. Alan Hanson, commander of the Traffic Division at the Fairfax County Police Department, said the pilot program will be evaluated over its six months. In future phases, the county plans to implement 50 speed cameras in school and work zones in fiscal year 2024, then 30 additional cameras for school zones in fiscal year 2025.

A previous presentation to the board's public safety committee highlighted the concern of speeding near schools. A speed enforcement pilot conducted on different dates in 2021 near five schools found a portion of vehicles speeding during selected morning and afternoon times. For example, 94.74 percent of 4,299 vehicles on Old Keene Mill Road in front of Irving Middle School in West Springfield were going 10 mph or more over the speed limit from Dec. 6 to 9, 2021 from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. The average speed of vehicles during that time period was 32.9 mph.

At Bonnie Brae Elementary in Burke (Roberts Road and Nellie White Lane), 43.23 percent of 1,411 vehicles were going 10 mph or more over the speed limit on March 18 to 25, 2021 between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross highlighted the urgency of getting the cameras in place so the pilot program doesn't run when school is out.

Hanson said the earliest cameras may be expected to be up is the start of February.

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn reiterated that the program won't be intended to create revenue.

"This is very, very focused on safety issues. I know we're going to learn a lot from the pilot, but we're not going to be looking to use this as a way to generate revenue," Alcorn said.

As required by Virginia code, signage to notify drivers must be placed within 1,000 feet of the speed cameras.

While the pilot program would be managed by existing police department staff on light duty, the full speed camera program would create a need for four new positions in the police department. The estimated cost of the fully implemented program is $3.8 million per year, which includes staffing and equipment costs. The pilot program will cost $3,000 per speed camera each month, plus the cost of signage and related equipment.