Speed cameras in school zones coming to James City County
JAMES CITY — Drivers who speed through school zones in James City County will face fines of $100 after the county agreed to set up speed cameras.
The James City County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday backed a request from the police department for school speed enforcement, making James City the latest locality to use the technology.
The county will contract with private company Blue Line Solutions to set up cameras. The police department has already been researching the technology’s necessity and practicality by collecting data on speed violations, said police spokesman Tayleb Brooks.
The Blue Line system uses automated photo speed trailer systems to monitor and enforce speed limits. Cameras capture and process speeding violations automatically, “with a focus on education over citation where feasible,” a memo to the board said.
A draft agreement between the county and Blue Line would allow the collection of a civil penalty of up to $100 for speeding violations of 10 mph or more in school zones.
Blue Line would provide and maintain all necessary equipment in a program that aims for zero fatalities in the county’s school zones.
“The mission behind this initiative is to change driver behavior, protect our students and school staff, and engage and educate the community to comply with speed limits in school zones,” Brooks said.
At its meeting, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the agreement with minimal discussion.
Board Chair Ruth Larson described the program as “extremely important.” The board also voiced support for red light cameras.
After the agreement with Blue Line is finalized, the police department will research where the cameras would be the most effective in reducing traffic violations, Brooks said. The department will also launch a public education campaign to ensure residents are aware of the initiative “and their role in improving safety,” he added.
There will also be a 30-day non-enforcement period following the public information campaign and completion of installation, during which no citations will be issued to violators.
The Virginia General Assembly approved legislation in 2020 that allows state and local police to set up speed cameras at highway work sites and school crossing zones. Under that law, only motorists caught going at least 10 mph over the speed limit are ticketed up to $100.
Neighboring New Kent County introduced speed cameras in its school zones last year. Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton and York County also have speed cameras in local school and some work zones to deter speeding and enhance overall public safety. Hampton and York County’s programs started this fall.
As James City County began looking into the cameras, Blue Line Solutions conducted a five-day speed study from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3 last year at Stonehouse Elementary, Norge Elementary and Toano Middle schools, Brooks said. The study recorded “speeding” vehicles — those that exceeded active school zone speed limits by more than 10 mph, and the findings “were alarming,” he said.
Of 35,385 vehicles counted, 23,439 were speeding — nearly two-thirds of all drivers. At Norge Elementary alone, almost 91% of drivers exceeded the speed limit.
The police department plans to consider those three schools for implementation of the cameras, and will determine whether they should be used at other schools, Brooks said.
“Speeding in school zones poses unnecessary and significant risks to children walking, cycling, being dropped off by parents, or riding school buses. It also endangers school staff and others traveling in the area,” Brooks said. “Our goal in bringing this initiative to James City County is simple: meaningfully and significantly reducing speeding in school zones.”
Most of the schools in the Williamsburg-James City County school division are in James City County, with only three in Williamsburg — Matthew Whaley Elementary and Berkeley and James Blair middle schools. The city has not taken any action on speed cameras at this point, a city spokeswoman said.
In other business Tuesday, a public hearing on a proposed development on Monticello Avenue was deferred until next month.
The hearing was scheduled to discuss a proposal to put retail and office space called the Monticello Avenue Shops on an undeveloped swath of land between News Road and New Town Avenue.
Texas-based Verdad Real Estate Development Inc. wants to construct three standalone structures, each 4,000 square feet, that would occupy the 2.75 acres. Last month, the planning commission recommended the development, but on Tuesday, supervisors said the applicant had asked to defer its presentation until Oct. 8.
David Macaulay, [email protected]
Kim O’Brien Root, [email protected]
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings