Virginia State Police is installing more of what they call speed safety cameras in the work zone between the 242 and 247 mile markers on Interstate 81 in Harrisonburg, per a release.
Eventually, those recorded by the cameras traveling 10 or more miles per hour over the speed limit in the zones can expect to be issued a civil citation by mail, with a fine of $100 – though there is no impact on your driving record or vehicle insurance.
That’s after the 30-day grace period, which will start in this 242-247 zone on Aug. 31.
During the grace period, they just give you a warning.
The release tells us that “each offense is validated by the Virginia State Police before a citation or warning is issued.”
The release doesn’t tell us this, but I looked it up – the people who market the speed safety cameras claim that they are certified to an accuracy of +1 mph/-2 mph.
What that claim doesn’t cover: they have to be regularly calibrated to maintain that level of accuracy.
Also not covered in the accuracy claim: the cameras can be vulnerable to radio frequency interference, high-voltage power lines, reflective surfaces and weather conditions.
That’s why, getting back to what we learned from the release about these new cameras going up on I-81 over the next few days, you can challenge a citation that you believe was given in error.
Information on how to contest the citation, as well as other facts about the program, can be found at Work Zone Speed Safety Camera Program: Virginia State Police.
We already have cameras up locally between the 221 and 225 mile markers in the Staunton-Augusta area, and the 143 and 150 mile markers in Roanoke and Botetourt County.
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Chris Graham
