The City of Alexandria’s new school zone speed camera program will go live for the 2023-24 school year. Speed cameras are placed:

• Francis Hammond Middle School, Seminary Road, between Kenmore Avenue and North Jordan Street;

• John Adams Elementary School and Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School, North Beauregard Street, between North Highview Lane and Reading Avenue;

• George Washington Middle School, Mount Vernon Avenue, between Braddock Road and Luray Avenue.

The City conducted a two-week warning period at the end of the 2022-23 academic year. Over 3,500 warning violations were issued to motorists in two weeks. An additional warning period is happening now, and the program will go fully live on Sept. 18.

The City selected the school locations using a process that considered factors such as crash history, traffic volume, vehicle speeds, and age and number of students.

Each school zone is approximately one-quarter mile in length and has a 15 MPH speed limit when school signs are flashing, which is when the speed cameras will be active. Clear signs are in place to inform drivers they are entering a speed camera zone.

The Alexandria City Council approved an ordinance authorizing the use of speed cameras in school zones and work zones in October 2022, and funding for five speed cameras was included in the Fiscal Year 2023 Approved Budget.

The City is committed to providing Safe Routes to School, and vehicle speed is among the top concerns cited by parents when asked about their children walking or biking to school. Speed cameras are a proven safety countermeasure that can reduce the number of crashes by more than 50%, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

The speed cameras automatically record speed limit violations using radar technology. After a sworn law enforcement officer affirms a violation, a speeding citation will be mailed to the vehicle’s owner, lessee, or renter. The maximum fine is $100.