Beginning August 13, the first day of school for Albemarle County students, speed cameras will greet drivers in the school zone on Rockfish Gap Turnpike (Rt. 250), monitoring motorists passing in both directions near Western Albemarle High, Henley Middle, and Brownsville Elementary. There will be a 30-day warning period, during which notices will be sent to motorists on Rt. 250 who travel 10 mph or more over the posted school zone limit during the times the school zone lights are flashing. Starting on Monday, September 15, violators will receive a $100 citation in the mail.
The county’s website says the goal of automated traffic enforcement is “to encourage a change in driver behavior and to increase driver awareness on the impacts of speed-related crashes,” and points to data from cameras in Charlottesville to back up its claim. A similar camera installation near the Lambs Lane campus (Albemarle High, Journey Middle, and Greer Elementary) operated during the 2024-25 school year. In that school zone, there were 9,985 police-reviewed and approved citations last year (excluding the warning period citations), and the county says it observed a 49% decrease in speeding events on the northbound side of Hydraulic Road, which borders the campus.
In Virginia, photo speed violations are civil violations that are not reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles and thus do not result in demerit points on one’s driving record, nor do they affect insurance rates. This differs from a “moving violation” type ticket issued by a police officer who directly observed the infraction. Automated enforcement of the civil offense means the registered owner of the vehicle is held responsible for the penalty and any consequences such as late fees, registration holds, or collections if left unpaid…