Leesburg Police Department to implement school zone speed safety program

The Leesburg Police Department is launching a new state-authorized school zone speed safety program on Aug. 21, aimed at improving safety for students, pedestrians, and motorists. The cameras will detect and capture images and video of vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit during designated school hours. For the first 30 days, violators will receive a warning by mail; beginning Sept. 22, a $100 fine will be issued.

Designated school hours are the specific times when school zone speed limits are active, as indicated by flashing school zone signs. In accordance with Virginia law, these periods occur only when the warning flashers are operating to signal the arrival or dismissal of students.

“Ensuring the safety of our students and residents is a top priority,” said Chief Thea Pirnat of the Leesburg Police Department. “This initiative is about changing driver behavior and making our streets safer, particularly in areas where children and other vulnerable road users are present. While officers will continue to conduct school zone enforcement town-wide through traditional methods, this program allows us to use technology to support consistent, accountable enforcement.”

Camera locations were selected through a data-driven process that analyzed vehicle speeds, traffic volume, and pedestrian crossings. The chosen sites reflect a deliberate effort to represent different areas across town, with emphasis on locations experiencing high traffic volumes, persistent speeding, and pedestrian activity, not limited to school crossings alone.

The enforcement locations include:
Ball’s Bluff Elementary
Battlefield Parkway NE

John W. Tolbert Jr. Elementary / Harper Park Middle School
Potomac Station Drive NE

Loudoun County High School
Dry Mill Road SW and Catoctin Circle SW

Captured images will be securely transmitted and reviewed by a Leesburg Police Officer to verify each violation before a notice is issued.

For more information and frequently asked questions visit: School Zone Speed Safety Program.