SUFFOLK, Va. — New traffic cameras in Suffolk aim to improve safety on the roads.
“They can give 18,000 tickets a day right there on the bypass, overpass,” said Suffolk resident Ronnie Parker.
Parker said speeding is a concern he notices almost every day.
“They come by me and I’m going five miles over the speed limit and they come by me like I’m sitting still,” he said.
Both he and city officials are hopeful new technology will remind drivers to slow down.
“We have a lot of concerns in our work zones,” said Major Cassandra Garvin, who leads patrol operations within the Suffolk Police Department. “We have a long-term construction project on Route 58 in the city right now. So, that’s been a big area of focus for us.”
City staff are in the process of installing red light and speeding cameras. The City of Suffolk has collaborated with a private vendor, Altumint, to install and maintain the technology.
Nine intersections across Suffolk are expected to have red light cameras. The intersection of Bridge Road and Shoulders Hill Road is already one spot the city is considering.
“We’re studying about a dozen different intersections where we know we have an issue to ascertain which nine locations we’ll be installing those,” said Wayne Jones, the community outreach coordinator for Suffolk Public Works.
Jones said a study is underway for the placement of speeding cameras in school zones too.
“Florence Bowser, Nansemond River High School,” he said. “Those schools on the faster moving roads will be the priority.”
Some school buses will also have a camera to catch anyone illegally passing a stopped bus. Jones said about 15 bus cameras will be active before the school year ends, but you won’t get a fine until the start of the new school year. School zone speeding cameras will also take effect during the new school year.
Jones expects to have about 50 buses with stop-arm enforcement cameras when school is back in session. He also said to expect to see mobile speeding cameras in major work zones at Route 58 and 460. He said that should deploy this month.
Red light cameras are expected to take effect later this spring. Drivers will get a 30-day warning period before they go live. City officials said speed camera signage will be visible to drivers coming toward any of these zones.
Violating the red light camera is a $50 fine. Speeding through school and work zones will cost you $100. You’ll be fined $250 if you pass a stopped school bus.
“On our side, each of these notices is going to be reviewed by an actual officer, a real-life person before they’re validated,” Major Garvin said.
Major Garvin hopes these new tools help to place a greater emphasis on safety.
“I would say that nothing can take the place of an officer but having technology that is a force multiplier allows us to spread our resources more widely,” she said.
The violation notice will be mailed in an official City of Suffolk envelope which will contain information related to the offense like the date and location. It will also include an internet link to view a video of the violation. Violators have 30 days to pay or appeal in court.