Tuesday, February 18, 2025

York County Launches School Zone Speed Cameras to Protect Students and Improve Road Safety

School Zone
(Stephanie Sabin/WYDaily)

YORK COUNTY — In a major initiative designed to enhance the safety of children in the community, York County announced it is launching new school zone speed enforcement cameras.

Starting Sept. 25, the cameras will be operational and issue citations to drivers who exceed the speed limit by more than 10 MPH in designated school zones, according to the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.

To ensure a smooth transition, there will be a 30-day warning period beginning Aug. 26 during which violators will receive warnings instead of citations. The warning period aims to educate drivers and encourage compliance before enforcement begins, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

“After the start of the 2023 school year last fall, the Sheriff’s Office began receiving numerous complaints about speeding in our school zones,” stated Sheriff Ron Montgomery.

Five schools were selected to have speed enforcement cameras installed on a trial basis to gather data and determine how prevalent the speeding issue was explained Montgomery. The trial period lasted five days, monitoring the speed of vehicles traveling in school zones both in the morning and afternoon sessions when buses were dropping off and picking up school children. The cameras were set to capture the number of vehicles traveling through the school zones at speeds over eleven miles per hour above the posted speed limit.

During the five-day trial period, 3,725 vehicles drove the school zones at speeds in excess of eleven miles per hour above the posted speed limit, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

“York County has nineteen schools; this data was from only five schools,” said Montgomery. “It was clear that this issue was a public safety concern and needed to be addressed. Our primary concern is the safety of our children. By implementing school zone speed cameras, we can enforce speed limits more effectively, even when officers are not physically present. This technology ensures continuous monitoring and enhances the safety of school zones.”

Cameras will be located at Bruton High School, Dare Elementary, Grafton Bethel Elementary, Seaford Elementary, Tabb Elementary and York High School, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Citations will be issued starting Sept. 25. Each citation is $100.

“The school district fully supports this program because it is fundamentally about keeping our children safe. These cameras will deter speeding and create a safer environment for our students as they travel to and from school,” said Victor Shandor, Superintendent of Schools.

This initiative aligns with Virginia’s legal framework for the use of photo speed monitoring devices in school crossing zones, ensuring compliance and safety across the board, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Holly Cooper, CEO of Altumint, which engineers, designs, and supports the visual technology system and citation process using artificial intelligence to capture data, stated, “The efficacy of speed cameras in school zones is well-documented. In similar programs across Virginia, we have observed a 75% decrease in speed violations within just three months. These results demonstrate that speed cameras are a crucial tool in protecting our most vulnerable road users — our children.”

For any inquiries or concerns regarding the implementation of speed enforcement cameras or for more information about the program and to access FAQ, contact the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.

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