CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Chesapeake Police announced that they would be installing at least 10 speed zone cameras before the 2022 school year ended.
“We’re going to have 10 cameras up in the next couple of months and we’re going to have two portable cameras. They’re going to be installed in 10 schools with flashing school signs. Then from there we’ll evaluate as the year goes on to determine if they need to be moved or if we need to add additional cameras,” said Chesapeake Police Officer Marc Lawrence.
The cameras will be set up in designated areas with flashing signs to indicate to drivers that the speed limit is 25 in school zones. The cameras will be photo enforced, and will record the license plate, a photo of the license plate, a second picture with the same data and a corresponding video with all that data as a secondary check.
After the data is recorded, it is sent to the Police Department for approval.
In a school example by the Police Department, they were given data that informed them of a potential 2,000 speeders during the flashing school zone times in one school area.
The fine is currently set at $100. The money from fines will be funneled into different programs the Police Department currently has.
“All these things ensure that the services that the Police Department provide to the city and to the citizens is what’s needed and that’s just more money that goes in there so we can provide better services to everybody,” said Officer Lawrence.
A 30-day warning period will go into effect once the cameras are installed. Police will send violators a warning letter during the period, but after that you will receive a fine.
Chesapeake Police expects the cameras to be installed and functioning before the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
Officer Lawrence told News 3 that two cameras will be installed in each of the five precincts. There will also be two roaming cameras.
One parent in the Deep Creek area said, "Maybe it’ll get people to slow down. That’d be great. I drive the speed limit, so I don’t have to worry about it. A lot of people complain just because they’re going to be the one getting a ticket. They’re not concerned about the kids which is what you should be concerned about."
To start, cameras will be installed in the following school zones:
Great Bridge Middle
Southeastern Elementary
Rena B Wright Primary
Sparrow Intermediate
Deep Creek High, Middle, and Elementary
Deep Creek Central Elementary and Hugo Owens Middle
Western Branch High, Middle, Intermediate, Primary
Southwestern Elementary
Greenbrier Middle
Greenbrier Christian Academy
