Pump the brakes: new speed cameras issuing tickets starting today

Drivers should always keep it slow in school zones but there's a new incentive starting today: new speed cameras across Alexandria are issuing warning tickets starting today.

The new cameras have been installed near John Adams Elementary School, Ferdinand Day Elementary School, Francis Hammond Middle School and George Washington Middle School.

Speed cameras are also in use in Arlington, Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax, but these are the first in Alexandria. The cameras will have a "warning period" at first before switching over to issuing full tickets.

Last year, City Council approved the $400,000 speed camera program, after a child was struck and seriously injured at an intersection just outside of Jefferson Houston Elementary School (200 block of North West Street). City Manager Jim Parajon then reduced speed limits in a number of residential, business and school zones from 25 miles per hour to 15 mph.

The areas indicated on this map have been equipped with speed cameras and will be active and issuing warning tickets as of May 30 until the end of the 2022-2023 school year. For more information on how the City is striving to make school zones safer, visit https://t.co/Q5G00JQYN4 pic.twitter.com/tBBODedqkx

— Alexandria Transportation & Environmental Services (@AlexandriaVATES) May 29, 2023