Fairfax County officials approved a pilot program that will put speed cameras in school zones.
The county joins the City of Alexandria in using speed cameras to slow drivers in school zones. Alexandria's program will start in early 2023.
The Fairfax County program will also start in early 2023 and issue fines to drivers who are driving significantly above the school zone speed limit in 10 locations around Fairfax County. (The locations will be posted online before the program starts.)
"An analysis by the pilot work group indicated that speeding in school zones is prevalent. Nearly 95% of drivers in the school zone at Springfield’s Irving Middle School and more than 40% of drivers in the school zone at Bonnie Brae Elementary School were traveling 10 mph or more above the speed limit during a morning drive sample period last year," Fairfax County reported.
Drivers going 10 mph over the posted school zone speed limit will get a fine, which will escalate to $100 for those driving 20 mph over the speed limit. There will be no points assigned to licenses for violations.
The pilot program will last six months and include 10 cameras. Following the pilot program, which will cost $3,000 per camera per month plus related equipment and signage, officials plan to deploy the program countywide in school and work zones. When the program is fully up and running, it could cost $3.8 million per year including staff and equipment. Fines would help offset that cost.
