Exploring speed cameras in Leesburg school zones

Study finds 38% of drivers speed in school areas

By Audrey Carpenter

Leesburg Police Chief Thea Pirnat has requested the Leesburg Town Council consider piloting speed cameras within some Town school zones for enhanced safety after adopting an appropriate ordinance and further research into all vendor options.

Other jurisdictions in the region with the speed cameras already in place include Alexandria City, Arlington County, Falls Church, Manassas Park, Fairfax City, and Fairfax County.

In a report prepared for the Council, Town staff concurred, recommending the Council consider adopting an ordinance, identifying a vendor, and hiring a police officer for the pilot program which would operate within a limited number of school zones. The Town would need to adopt an ordinance for civil penalties to be paid to the jurisdiction.

One of the objectives of the pilot program would be to increase safety for students traveling to and from school zones by bike or foot. The Code of Virginia Section 46.2-873 sets the speed limit at 25 mph in school zones, and there are 13 school zones in Leesburg.

School crossing zones are defined as an area located within the vicinity of a school at or near a highway where the presence of children on such school property or going to and from school reasonably requires a special warning to motorists. Zones are marked and operated with appropriate warning signs or other traffic control devices indicating that a school crossing is in progress.

Chief Pernat said the Leesburg Police Department recently partnered with a vendor to provide a speed study within three school zones to evaluate the need for cameras. The locations evaluated were Cool Spring Elementary School, Tolbert Elementary School, and Harper Park Middle School on Oct. 2 and 3.

The study found that during school hours, the cumulative daily average vehicle count was 2,356, with an average daily violation of 676 for the three school zones. This equates to about 38% of drivers exceeding the speed limit in the three school zones studied.

The speed cameras will generate an unknown amount of annual revenue as the

amount will be dependent on vendor options, number of violations issued and number of participating sites. However, the Chief said there should be no “net cost” associated with the program because it would be violator-funded.

A sworn officer is needed to verify each violation and potentially testify in court if citations are contested, but the Chief said it is unlikely that LPD could absorb the impact with current staffing levels, and said consideration should be given to hiring one or more flex part-time officers for support.

She said some agencies have utilized current employees paying overtime, while other agencies have deployed retired law enforcement employees. The anticipated hourly rate is estimated at $50 per hour for retired officers, but final rates would be established as the program is further developed. A sworn officer is needed to verify each violation and potentially testify in court if citations are contested.

The Chief added, “After consulting with other jurisdictions and multiple vendors, the best avenue to pursue would be to partner with a private vendor,” stating the vendor would be responsible for the installation and maintenance of cameras while providing additional administrative support for the program. The systems would need a photo verification that the school zone speed signs were flashing for court challenges.

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly created code § 46.2-882.1, “Use of Photo Speed Monitoring Devices in Highway Work Zones and School Crossing Zones.” Photo speed

monitoring devices utilize radar or LIDAR for speed detection and produce one or more

photographs, micrographs, videotapes or other recorded images of a vehicle.

According to the Code, there is no limit on the number of school zones speed cameras the Town may have, but all sites must have a traffic study completed prior to installation and there is a requirement for a public awareness campaign prior to implementation. Signage about the speed cameras must be posted at all school locations within 1,000 feet.

Violations must be at least 10 miles per hour above the posted school zone speed limit, but the locality determines the threshold. The civil citation goes to the registered owner via mail with a fee of no more than $100. There are no points applied to a driving record.

The Virginia Department of Transportation’s “Safe Routes to School” (SRTS)program has been active in Virginia since 2007 to make walking and riding to school safer for students. According to their literature, a generation ago, 90% of students walked or biked to school. Today, it’s only 10%. walking and biking to school decreases traffic congestion and pollution while increasing physical exercise.

The SRTS website has dozens of resources and distributes quarterly newsletters and regular e-blasts with information about grants and best practices from communities in Virginia and elsewhere. Jurisdictions can apply for a variety of grants through the Transportation Alternatives Programs funding through SRTS. Information on that is here: https://www.virginiadot.org/programs/srts_school_travel_plans_and_grants.asp

SRTS offers “Quarterly Calls” for the public to learn more about its program. The next call is scheduled for Dec. 13 and the topic will be crossing guard shortages, said Katherine Graham, the Virginia SRTS coordinator. To participate in that upcoming call, contact: Katherine.graham@vdot.virginia.gov.

The SRTS 2021-2026 strategic plan can be found here: https://www.virginiadot.org/programs/resources/safe_routes/2016-2017/Main_Page/2021-2026_Virginia_SRTS_Strategic_Plan.pdf.