SB 1209 (Obenshain), as substituted, stated that all civil penalties collected for the purposes of recording vehicle speed violations shall be paid to the Commonwealth Transportation Board to be used for the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program (VHSIP). What this means, in practice, is that for counties who choose to administer a photo speed enforcement program, all funds generated will then be sent to the state. SB 1209 was amended to address VACo’s concerns as the language directing funds to be deposited in the VHSIP was removed. VACo thanks Senator Obenshain for hearing our concerns. SB 1209 passed the Senate 40-0 and was referred to but will not be heard in the House Courts of Justice Committee.
HB 2718 (Leftwich) requires photographs or other recorded images produced by a photo speed monitoring device placed in a school crossing zone to depict the flashing warning sign with the image or video that captures the violation in a school zone. VACo relayed concerns to the Delegate that this requirement would be burdensome for localities currently operating photo speed enforcement programs, especially for counties who do not own their own roads as current statute would not allow cameras to be installed outside of the school crossing zone to capture the flashing sign and violation. VACo and county leaders worked with Delegate Leftwich to amend the bill giving flexibility on this requirement. As amended, HB 2718 would allow for documentation to depict or confirm that the flashing warning sign was active at the time the photo speed camera captures a violation. VACo thanks Delegate Leftwich for working with us on this bill and addressing our concerns.
HB 2041 (Seibold) would require civil penalties collected from photo speed cameras to be used solely for the operating costs of such speed safety cameras and that any excess fund collected are to be annually deposited in the VHSIP. VACo opposed HB 2041 as it passed the House by a vote of 54-44. HB 2041, on its journey through the Senate, has been amended often and multiple substitutes have been offered as the details of the bill have been debated. During the bill’s hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee, two substitutes were offered that would have largely addressed VACo’s concerns. Unfortunately, neither of those substitutes were considered. The Committee voted down the bill by a vote of 6-9. VACo thanks county members for your outreach and thanks Delegate Seibold for her hard work and coordination with VACo to try and get this bill in a more positive posture for localities.
SB 1233 (Williams-Graves), as introduced, would authorize state and local law-enforcement agencies to place and operate pedestrian crossing violation and stop sign violation monitoring systems in school crossing zones and highway work zones for purposes of recording pedestrian crossing and stop sign violations. The bill’s language has changed substantially as it was substituted during its hearing in the House Transportation Committee’s Innovations Subcommittee. SB 1233, as substituted, contains the same language that HB 2041 (Seibold) has as it passed the House of Delegates. SB 1233 would require civil penalties collected from photo speed cameras to be used solely for the operating costs of such speed safety cameras and that any excess fund collected are to be annually deposited in the VHSIP. VACo opposes SB 1233 as this would redirect locally generated funds to the VHSIP which is administered by the State. VACo believes that keeping these funds at the local level empowers communities to invest in critical programs and infrastructure improvements that directly address their unique needs and priorities. SB 1233 passed the Senate today by a vote of 52-44. Since SB 1233 previously passed the Senate with different language, we expect this bill to end up in conference.
VACo Contact: James Hutzler