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Two Virginia Senate bills that threatened to eliminate local speed and red-light cameras have been sharply narrowed, leaving the enforcement programs intact while targeting fees charged to drivers.
State Sen. Mark J. Peake (R-8) introduced substitute versions of S.B. 297 and S.B. 306 on Monday, Feb. 2. Instead of repealing localities’ authority to operate the cameras, the revised measures would restrict third-party vendors to collecting only the civil penalty associated with a traffic violation.
“We’re going to prevent them from charging any extra administrative fees to people who are charged with the violations, other than whatever the applicable court costs would be,” said Peake, whose district includes Lynchburg and parts of south-central Virginia.
The original bills had attracted some bipartisan support. State Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38), who represents Herndon, Great Falls and McLean, voted during a Jan. 22 Senate Transportation Committee hearing to send both repeal measures to the full Senate.
Boysko did not explain her votes at the hearing, and her Senate office did not respond to a request for comment. Fairfax County-area Sens. Dave Marsden (D-35) and Stella Pekarsky (D-36) opposed advancing the legislation.
Peake acknowledged during the committee meeting that S.B. 297 lacked broad support. He said he introduced it anyway to get the attention of camera companies.
He also criticized arrangements that allow vendors, including companies based outside Virginia, to receive a portion of camera-generated revenue. Peake argued that those agreements lack accountability and keep money from remaining in the state.
Both revised bills have been referred to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. They must again be reported to the full Senate before they can advance.
Virginia has permitted localities to use cameras to document red-light violations at intersections since 2007. Lawmakers authorized speed cameras in 2020, limiting their use to school zones and highway work zones.
Fairfax County launched a speed-camera pilot program in 2023, with Police Chief Kevin Davis describing it as an effort to change driving behavior. The program began at eight locations and now includes cameras in 20 school zones and along Fairfax County Parkway, where a widening project remains underway.
County officials have identified 20 additional schools for future expansion and plan to add another 30 cameras in fiscal year 2027.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay called the program a critical tool for discouraging dangerous driving and saving lives when it began in 2023, urging motorists to slow down in neighborhoods and school zones.
Camera enforcement has also expanded elsewhere in the area. Fairfax City operates speed cameras and 10 red-light cameras, while Herndon officials are considering whether to add red-light cameras to the town police department’s enforcement tools.