Speed cameras at two Richmond schools have produced over 14,000 citations since November

Over 14,000 citations have been issued to Richmond drivers for speeding in school zones since the city launched its first speed camera pilot in November 2023, according to figures from Mayor Levar Stoney’s administration. 

“That’s only with a short period of time,” said Stoney during a press conference Wednesday on efforts to calm traffic and reduce crashes. “And remember, these cameras are not operating the entirety of the school day. So imagine what people are doing outside of those times.” 

Virginia historically forbid local governments from installing speed cameras, but in 2020 the General Assembly passed a law allowing them in school and work zones. Richmond began operating its first cameras in November 2023, at Linwood Holton Elementary School in Northside and Patrick Henry School of Arts and Sciences in Southside. On August 19, the technology went into operation at nine more schools. 

The cameras operate between 7:15 and 9:15 a.m. and between 2:15 and 4:15 p.m. on school days. Drivers going 11 or more mph over the speed limit are mailed a citation. 

All of the citations issued so far have been for drivers speeding around Holton and Patrick Henry, the city confirmed, as a 30-day grace period for violations is currently underway at the nine new locations.

Richmond isn’t alone in the flood of citations. Across Virginia, local governments have clocked hundreds of thousands of drivers speeding on school zone cameras. 

Stoney said Wednesday that he believes the General Assembly should further expand the power it gives to local governments to use technology to enforce speed limits. 

“This is part of the culture change right here,” he said. “When you are in the District of Columbia, you know that you should probably slow down and go the speed limit, because there are speed cameras almost, I feel like, at every corner.” 

But while Washington, D.C.’s traffic cameras track not only speed but also whether drivers comply with red lights, stop signs, school bus stops, truck restrictions and bus lane rules, Virginia lawmakers have been more hesitant to expand the use of technology to monitor driving behavior because of privacy and civil liberties concerns. Legislation put forward by Richmond Del. Mike Jones to let localities install the cameras in more locations was pushed off until the 2025 session.

Gianni Snidle, a spokesperson for the mayor, said data shows Richmond’s cameras are slowing drivers down: As of July 8, he said, the average number of tickets being issued had declined from 176 per day at the start of the program to 76 per day. 

Besides traffic cameras, the city has installed 437 traffic calming measures since 2017, including over 260 speed tables this year, and is running a “Slow Down” awareness campaign.