HAMPTON — Drivers will need to be more cautious — or risk a fine. The city is installing speed and red-light cameras that go live next month.
Mayor Donnie Tuck spoke of the impending camera fees during his final town hall meeting Thursday at the American Theatre.
The red-light cameras are meant to deter drivers from clogging city streets when traffic from the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and Interstate 64 backs up. Tuck said these will become active in early August, potentially as soon as Thursday. The first red-light cameras expected to go live include two on Mallory Street — one near Segar Street and one on the other side of the bridge — and one at the intersection of Settlers Landing Road and William R. Harvey Way.
The cameras will monitor drivers running a red light and turning right on red when prohibited. Public Works Director Jason Mitchell previously laid out a plan to direct traffic along Settlers Landing Road, which connects downtown to I-64, into three lanes.
In the left lane, traffic would travel toward Phoebus and I-64 West. In the right lane, traffic would turn right onto the Hampton University campus or Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
During most hours of the day, the middle lane would allow traffic onto the I-64 East ramp; however, during the most busy traffic hours of 3-6 p.m., the light would remain red as a deterrent for drivers looking to hop on and off the interstate to skirt traffic.
Tuck said there will be a 30-day warning period once the cameras go live. Afterward, drivers found guilty of crossing a red light based on video evidence would receive a $50 fine. However, a conviction will not result in any points being added to the person’s driving record.
There also soon will be consequences for those caught speeding through school zones, designated with a posted speed limit of 25 mph with flashing warning signs to indicate that children and pedestrians are actively crossing roadways. Those who go 10 mph or more over the speed limit will face an up to $100 fine.
The city is establishing a year-long pilot program that will install speed cameras at 12 locations before the beginning of the school year, which starts Aug. 26.
According to Mitchell, the 12 locations are Big Bethel High School, Hampton High School, Hunter B. Andrews Pre-K, Jones Magnet Middle School, Kecoughtan High School, Lindsay Middle School, Machen Elementary School, Mary W. Jackson Elementary School, Thomas Eaton Middle School, Aberdeen Elementary School, Barron Elementary School and William Mason Cooper Elementary School.
The city also has three alternate locations — Alfred S. Forrest Elementary School, Samuel P. Langley Elementary School, and Mary T Christian Elementary School — that may be used if it runs into any significant issues during the deployment process.
A law enforcement officer will review and affirm all speeding violations issued through technology, and a citation will be processed and mailed to the vehicle owner.
While the pilot program is slated to last a year, the city has budgeted enough money — $3.4 million — to possibly expand the speed cameras to all 34 school zones. Because revenue from violations are expected to offset the cost of the cameras, the program is expected to pay for itself.
Mitchell said there will be a 30-day warning period from when the first school cameras go live before the city enforces fines. Mitchell said the goal is to have as many of the initial 12 cameras ready by the opening of the school year, although he said it’s likely that only seven may be.
During the town hall, many residents raised concerns about speeding in other parts of the city — including several residential neighborhoods — and asked if the city could implement speed cameras beyond school zones.
City Manager Mary Bunting said the city only has the authority to put speed cameras in school and work zones, as the state legislature allows. However, she said when the city prepares its legislative priorities to send to the General Assembly, it could consider requesting to expand the use of speed cameras. Bunting said speed cameras would help deter drivers from going far over the speed limit, and would allow police officers to focus on more violent crime.
Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com
