Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-882.1
A. For the purposes of this section:
"High-risk intersection segment" means any highway or portion thereof located not more than 1,000 feet from the limits of the property of a school that is part of or adjacent to an intersection containing a marked crosswalk that is identified in the manner provided in this section as one in which a traffic fatality has occurred since January 1, 2014.
"Highway work zone" has the same meaning ascribed to it in § 46.2-878.1.
"National Park highway" means any highway within Planning District 8 that is located on property where the Commonwealth has transferred such property to the federal government subject to concurrent jurisdiction pursuant to Chapter 4 (§ 1-400 et seq.) of Title 1 or Chapter 494 of the Acts of Assembly of 1926 and such highway is maintained by the National Park Service.
"Photo speed monitoring device" means equipment that uses radar or LIDAR-based speed detection and produces one or more photographs, microphotographs, videotapes, or other recorded images of vehicles.
"Operating costs" means the costs attributable to a locality's photo speed monitoring device program, including costs for (i) devices and associated equipment, including the installation and operation of such devices and equipment; (ii) signs and speed display signs indicating the use of a photo speed monitoring device; (iii) contracts with private vendors; and (iv) personnel costs.
"Pedestrian crossing violation" means a violation of this title resulting from the operation of a vehicle in violation of § 46.2-924.
"Pedestrian crossing violation monitoring system" means equipment that produces one or more photographs, micrographs, videotapes, or other recorded images of pedestrian crossing violations.
"Retired sworn law-enforcement officer" means any officer of the United States, or of a state or political subdivision thereof, who was empowered by law to conduct investigations and make arrests and any attorney authorized by law to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of such offenses, who at the time of retirement kept an up-to-date certification and retired honorably in good standing. A retired sworn law-enforcement officer shall not be required to keep an up-to-date certification after the date of his retirement.
"Safety red zone" means a highway with a speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less that is located in a priority pedestrian corridor as identified by the Department of Transportation in the statewide Pedestrian Safety Action Plan or other high-risk pedestrian corridor as designated by the Commissioner of Highways.
"School crossing zone" has the same meaning ascribed to it in § 46.2-873.
"Speed display sign" means a self-contained system that uses radar or LIDAR-based speed detection to measure the real-time speed of an approaching vehicle and displays that speed to the driver.
"Stop sign violation" means a violation of this title resulting from the operation of a vehicle in violation of a stop sign placed in accordance with § 46.2-830, including a violation of § 46.2-821 or 46.2-833.1."Stop sign violation" does not include violations of traffic light signals, traffic control devices other than stop signs, or speed limits.
"Stop sign violation monitoring system" means equipment that produces one or more photographs, micrographs, videotapes, or other recorded images of stop sign violations.
"Vehicle speed violation" means a violation of this title resulting from the operation of a vehicle in excess of the speed limit, including a violation of § 46.2-102.1, 46.2-873, or 46.2-878.1.
"Workers are present" means one or more individuals are physically present and providing highway maintenance or construction services pursuant to a contract with the Department of Transportation or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth.
B.
1. A state or local law-enforcement agency may place and operate a photo speed monitoring device in school crossing zones for the purposes of recording violations of § 46.2-873 and, when workers are present, in highway work zones for the purposes of recording violations of § 46.2-878.1.
A state or local law-enforcement agency may place and operate a photo speed monitoring device at a high-risk intersection segment located within the locality for the purpose of recording vehicle speed violations, provided that such law-enforcement agency certifies that a traffic fatality has occurred since January 1, 2014, in such segment.
A state or local law-enforcement agency may place and operate in school crossing zones or highway work zones (i) a pedestrian crossing violation monitoring system for purposes of recording pedestrian crossing violations and (ii) a stop sign violation monitoring system for purposes of recording stop sign violations.
A state or local law-enforcement agency may place and operate a photo speed monitoring device on a National Park highway for the purpose of recording vehicle speed violations, pursuant to § 46.2-102.1, provided that such law-enforcement agency has been authorized by the federal government or the National Park Service to place such photo speed monitoring device on such National Park highway.
No law-enforcement agency shall place and operate a speed safety camera in a location other than a school crossing zone, highway work zone, high-risk speed corridor, or National Parkway without the approval by ordinance of the local governing body as provided in subdivision 2.
G.
H. (Effective until July 1, 2027) A private vendor may enter into an agreement with a law-enforcement agency to be compensated for providing a photo speed monitoring device, pedestrian crossing violation monitoring system, or stop sign violation monitoring system and all related support services, including consulting, operations, and administration. However, only a law-enforcement officer or retired sworn law-enforcement officer may swear to or affirm the certificate required by this section. Any such agreement for compensation shall be based on the value of the goods and services provided, not on the number of violations paid or monetary penalties imposed. Any such agreement for compensation shall provide that if such private vendor is responsible for mailing a summons pursuant to this section, such private vendor shall not impose or collect any additional fee, including any administrative fee, and shall only collect a civil penalty as authorized pursuant to this section, except that a reasonable postage and convenience fee for electronic payment of the civil penalty, not to exceed five percent of the civil penalty, may be imposed and collected. Any private vendor contracting with a law-enforcement agency pursuant to this section may enter into an agreement with the Department, in accordance with the provisions of subdivision B 31 of § 46.2-208, to obtain vehicle owner information regarding the registered owners of vehicles that committed a vehicle speed violation, pedestrian crossing violation, or stop sign violation. Any such information provided to such private vendor shall be protected in a database. Any such private vendor providing a photo speed monitoring device that is also compensated for the calibration of such device shall calibrate such device in the same manner and to the same specifications as all other devices determining speed, to the extent that such devices utilize the same method of speed detection as such photo speed monitoring device, that are used by the law-enforcement agency with which such vendor has entered into an agreement. Upon request of any person who received a summons by mail for a vehicle speed violation recorded by a photo speed monitoring device provided by such a private vendor and who contests such citation, such private vendor shall deliver proof of calibration of such photo speed monitoring device for the time period in which the alleged violation was recorded to such person and to the court in which such citation is to be contested. If such proof of calibration is delivered by mail, it shall be postmarked within 10 days of such request for such proof of calibration, and if such proof of calibration is electronically delivered, it shall be electronically delivered within 10 days of such request for such proof of calibration. Such summons shall include notice of such person's right to request such proof of calibration. Any private vendor that fails to provide such proof of calibration within the time specified shall be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000. All civil penalties received pursuant to this subsection shall be paid to the Commonwealth Transportation Board to be used for the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program established pursuant to § 33.2-373.
H (Effective July 1, 2027) A private vendor may enter into an agreement with a law-enforcement agency to be compensated for providing a photo speed monitoring device, pedestrian crossing violation monitoring system, or stop sign violation monitoring system and all related support services, including consulting, operations, and administration. However, only a law-enforcement officer, retired sworn law-enforcement officer, retired sworn law-enforcement officer, registered special conservator of the peace, or technician, who (i) has completed a training course developed and approved pursuant to subdivision 73 of § 9.1-102 and (ii) is an employee of a locality may swear to or affirm the certificate required by this section. Any such agreement for compensation shall be based on the value of the goods and services provided, not on the number of violations paid or monetary penalties imposed. Any such agreement for compensation shall provide that if such private vendor is responsible for mailing a summons pursuant to this section, such private vendor shall not impose or collect any additional fee, including any administrative fee, and shall only collect a civil penalty as authorized pursuant to this section, except that a reasonable postage and convenience fee for electronic payment of the civil penalty, not to exceed five percent of the civil penalty, may be imposed and collected. Any private vendor contracting with a law-enforcement agency pursuant to this section may enter into an agreement with the Department, in accordance with the provisions of subdivision B 31 of § 46.2-208, to obtain vehicle owner information regarding the registered owners of vehicles that committed a vehicle speed violation, pedestrian crossing violation, or stop sign violation. Any such information provided to such private vendor shall be protected in a database. Any such private vendor providing a photo speed monitoring device that is also compensated for the calibration of such device shall calibrate such device in the same manner and to the same specifications as all other devices determining speed, to the extent that such devices utilize the same method of speed detection as such photo speed monitoring device, that are used by the law-enforcement agency with which such vendor has entered into an agreement. Upon request of any person who received a summons by mail for a vehicle speed violation recorded by a photo speed monitoring device provided by such a private vendor and who contests such citation, such private vendor shall deliver proof of calibration of such photo speed monitoring device for the time period in which the alleged violation was recorded to such person and to the court in which such citation is to be contested. If such proof of calibration is delivered by mail, it shall be postmarked within 10 days of such request for such proof of calibration, and if such proof of calibration is electronically delivered, it shall be electronically delivered within 10 days of such request for such proof of calibration. Such summons shall include notice of such person's right to request such proof of calibration. Any private vendor that fails to provide such proof of calibration within the time specified shall be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000. All civil penalties received pursuant to this subsection shall be paid to the Commonwealth Transportation Board to be used for the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program established pursuant to § 33.2-373.
2020, c. 1232; 2024, c. 670; 2025, cc. 434, 670; 2026, cc. 963, 964, 965, 967, 968, 969, 970, 986, 1033.