VCU Police continue crackdown on dangerous driving along Belvidere Street corridor
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Police said they’re not letting up on traffic enforcement along Belvidere Street, one of Richmond’s busiest and most dangerous corridors.
The department has launched a major traffic safety initiative in March, focused on the five-block stretch between West Broad Street and Canal Street that runs through the heart of VCU’s campus.
Officers said the results so far highlight just how unsafe the area has become.
From March 7 to May 2, VCU Police made 265 traffic stops along Belvidere, issuing 152 summonses and 113 warnings. That’s more than double the number of tickets compared to last year.
“One accident, one fatality, one serious injury — is one too many,” said VCU Police traffic enforcement officer Jose DeJesus.
The Belvidere corridor has long been a concern for both drivers and pedestrians, particularly students walking to class. Traffic violations there have climbed sharply in recent years: from 22 violations in 2022, to 42 in 2023, to 62 in 2024. This year, that number has already surpassed 100.
“People got conditioned during COVID[-19] that if we don’t enforce it, it’s OK,” DeJesus said. “People get impatient… they’ll try to beat the light, and that’s when you see a lot of near misses out here.”
The most common violations officers are seeing include speeding, running red lights and distracted driving. To track driver behavior, VCU Police are using speed trailers, Metro-Count boxes and digital speed signs.
“Three seconds between a yellow and a red light — it’s just not worth your life or someone else’s,” DeJesus said.
VCU Police have stressed that the initiative isn’t just about giving tickets, but about changing driver behavior to keep everyone safe.
“At the end of the day, that’s all we’re looking for — is everyone to stay safe at all times. Zero deaths, zero accidents, that’s our goal,” said VCU Police Lt. Edward Greer.
While the official enforcement period finished in May, police said they will continue to monitor Belvidere closely to ensure drivers are accountable.
