Virginia lawmakers are taking steps to ensure speed cameras are used for safety, not just as a way to generate money. A new bill aiming to increase transparency and accountability in speed camera operations has passed the House and is now moving to the Senate for further consideration.
According to Virginia State Police data, the state collected nearly $24 million from speed cameras in school zones and almost $10 million from highway work zones last year. These cameras were approved in 2020 to help reduce traffic deaths and encourage safer driving near schools and construction areas. However, concerns have grown over the financial benefits for local governments and law enforcement, raising questions about whether the cameras are being used primarily for safety or revenue.
Del. Holly Seibold, D-Fairfax, who introduced House Bill 2041, said the main goal is to change driving behaviour rather than generate income. Her bill would require local governments to approve speed cameras through an ordinance and establish a stakeholder advisory group to collect community feedback before installing them. It also mandates that at least two warning signs be placed within 1,000 feet of each camera, one of which must be a flashing feedback sign to alert drivers of their speed.
To prevent companies from profiting directly from traffic citations, the bill would cap administrative fees and impose a $1,000 civil penalty for violations. It also includes due process measures, such as standardized citation information and a 30-day warning period when new cameras are installed. During this time, violators would receive warnings instead of immediate fines.
Local governments and law enforcement agencies would need to provide regular updates to the public about the use of speed cameras. Seibold mentioned that the bill might be revised in the Senate to allow localities to keep the money collected, but only for pedestrian safety improvements. Under this plan, after covering operational costs, the remaining funds would go to the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Fund.
House Transportation Committee Chair Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, strongly supported the bill, emphasizing that its purpose is to reduce speeding, accidents, and fatalities. She stressed the importance of making sure the program is focused on safety, not revenue generation.
Delaney pointed out that past efforts to expand speed and red-light camera enforcement failed in the House, but lawmakers have been working to understand better how these programs impact safety, revenue collection, and legal procedures. The goal is to give local governments options to improve safety while ensuring public trust in the program by preventing it from being used solely to generate money.
The bill passed the House in a 55-45 vote and is now awaiting review in the Senate. If it passes, it will go to Gov. Glenn Youngkin for final approval. As of Wednesday evening, the Senate had not yet assigned the bill to a committee.
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