Central Virginia counties are cracking down on speeding near school zones

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — As students across Central Virginia school prepare to head back to class, 8News is looking at speeding near school zones and how some counties are turning to safety cameras to deter dangerous driving.

In the last year, some counties in Central Virginia have implemented speed safety camera programs to slow drivers down near schools.

Chesterfield County launched its school zone speed enforcement program on February 12. Between then and June 30, more than 6,600 violations were issued, with nearly 3,700 paid. The fines have generated roughly $374,000 in revenue so far.

The county has received roughly $280,000 from those payments -- which is money that’s being used to fund new technologies and support the police department’s Analytic and Strategic Operations Center.

In Richmond, the city operates 26 speed cameras at 13 school zone locations. Since March 2024, the program has brought in $2,474,718 in fines, including approximately $1,889,338 in 2025 alone, as of July 1.

Richmond Police Captain Anthony Jackson identified several key trouble spots, including River City Middle School on Hull Street, Francis McClenney on Chamberlayne Avenue, and Richmond High School for the Arts near Midlothian Turnpike.

“Speed is such a huge factor in many of our crashes that if one slows down and takes their time, we can, you know, we can see an increase in safety and a reduction of crashes and injuries,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the initial money generated from fines goes toward the operation of the speed cameras. Once paid off, the remaining will be distributed to city programs such as Vision Zero -- a traffic engineer and Department of Public Works collaboration with RPD to have safer streets.

While there are currently no plans to expand the camera program in Richmond, Jackson emphasized that the department will continue to monitor problem areas and adjust as necessary.

In Hanover County, officials are in the early stages of considering camera-based enforcement. The department issued 3,516 traffic summonses, including 68 for speeding in school zones. In 2024, 3,547 tickets were handed out, including 34 for speeding in school zones

“If there can be a camera there to help reduce the amount of speeding in these school zones when we don't have a unit available to be physically sitting there, then I think it's going to obviously have a very positive impact,” said Sergeant Steve Wills of the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

Currently, Hanover does not use speed cameras but does deploy radar trailers in key areas. Wills said the department has been in communication with nearby agencies that have implemented camera systems to evaluate their effectiveness.

“We're in the early stages of researching different vendors and different types of cameras that exist out there. We've talked to some of our local agencies nearby that we're affiliated with. And just to have a conversation with them -- how's it going? Is it working? What kind of effect are you seeing?” Wills said.