Automated Safety Enforcement

Arlington County is dedicated to ensuring the safety of all travelers in our community and has implemented programs and strategies designed to improve safety across Arlington’s transportation network. The Automated Safety Enforcement program, which includes PhotoRED and PhotoSPEED, aims to encourage red-light compliance, lower speeds and promote safety by addressing driver behaviors that can result in traffic fatalities and severe injuries. The program supports Arlington County’s ongoing Vision Zero program efforts and the Police Department’s key initiative of Transportation Safety.

The Automated Safety Enforcement program is managed by the Arlington County Police Department with support by the Department of Environmental Service’s Division of Transportation.

PhotoRED

The PhotoRED program uses red-light cameras to detect and record images of vehicles that run red-lights at intersections with traffic signals. The goal of the program is to improve driver compliance with traffic signals, increase road safety and reduce serious injuries and fatalities caused by red-light running.

Map of PhotoRED Locations in Arlington County

How Red-Light Safety Cameras Work

How-It-Works-Red-Light LG PRNT.png

The camera records video and takes photos when a vehicle enters the intersection after the light turns red.

Program Information

  • Red-light safety cameras operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Photo-enforcement signs are posted within 500 feet of camera enforced intersections.
  • The contracted company reviews and validates the footage of all potential red-light violations before sending it to the Arlington County Police Department. An officer then reviews the footage captured by the system and confirmed violations are issued a ticket.
  • A photo-enforced red-light ticket is a $50.00 fine.
  • The violation does not affect drivers on court or DMV probation.

Camera Selection Criteria

The locations for red light violation cameras are chosen based on Virginia code and consider the following factors:

  • Crash rate
  • Red-light violation rate
  • Pedestrian safety
  • Difficulty in conducting enforcement at the location through traditional methods

After data for each intersection is reviewed, the top potential locations are selected for the program contractor to conduct a multi-day, site-specific analysis of the location to confirm the need for a camera.

Camera Locations

PhotoRED program cameras are located at the following intersections: 

  • NB N. Glebe Rd. at N. Fairfax Dr. 
  • NB N. Lynn St. at EB Langston Blvd. 
  • WB Washington Blvd. at Langston Blvd.
  • SB Fort Myer Dr. at WB Langston Blvd.
  • NB and SB Richmond Hwy. at 23rd Street S.
  • EB and WB Columbia Pike at S. Glebe Rd.
  • NB N. Glebe Rd at N. Washington Blvd.
  • EB and WB Columbia Pike at Washington Boulevard
  • WB Langston Boulevard at N. Spout Run Parkway and SB N. Spout Run Parkway at Langston Boulevard
  • EB and Westbound 10th Street N. at N. Barton Street
  • WB Langston Boulevard at N. Lynn Street
  • WB Wilson Boulevard at N. Lynn Street and NB N. Lynn St at Wilson Boulevard
  • WB Langston Boulevard at eastbound I-66 Exit 72 Offramp 

 

PhotoSPEED

In 2020, Virginia enacted legislation to permit speed safety cameras in school and work zones. Recognizing children are some of our most vulnerable road users, PhotoSPEED launched at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year with a focus on school zones to ensure the safety of students as they arrive and depart from school each day.

PhotoSPEED uses camera technology to detect and record images of vehicles traveling faster than the posted speed limit. Speed safety cameras are an additional education and enforcement tool to encourage compliance with posted traffic signs, deter speeding, reduce the likelihood of severe crashes, and improve overall safety on roads.

Map of PhotoSPEED locations in Arlington County

How Speed Safety Cameras Work

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The camera records video and takes photos when a vehicle is traveling in the school zone in excess of the posted speed limit.

Program Information

  • School zone speed safety cameras are operational when the lights on the speed limit signs are flashing during arrival and departure.
  • Photo-enforcement signs are posted within 1,000 feet in advance of each speed safety camera.
  • The contracted company reviews and validates the footage of all potential speed violations before sending it to the Arlington County Police Department. An officer then reviews the footage captured by the system and confirmed violations are issued a ticket.
  • A speed camera ticket is a $100 fine.
  • The ticket does not affect drivers on court or DMV probation.

Camera Selection Criteria

Arlington County identified school zone locations within the county that would most benefit from automated safety devices in accordance with the County’s Vision Zero safety program. PhotoSPEED locations were then selected using safety data sources. These school zones will be actively reviewed and assessed by County staff to evaluate the safety impacts of the cameras and guide the development and future of the PhotoSPEED program.

Camera Locations

PhotoSPEED program cameras are installed at the following locations:

  • NB 1300 block of Kirkwood Road
  • WB 5800 block of Wilson Boulevard
  • SB 400 block of N. George Mason Drive
  • SB 600 block of S. Carlin Springs Road
  • SB Unit block of S. Carlin Springs Road
  • SB 1900 block of S. George Mason Drive
  • NB 1900 block of S George Mason Drive
  • SB 1200 block of S. George Mason Drive*
  • EB 4500 block of Washington Boulevard*
  • EB 5200 block of Yorktown Boulevard
  • NB 700 block of N. George Mason Drive
  • SB 2500 block of S. Arlington Ridge Road
  • EB 5800 block of Williamsburg Boulevard*
  • SB 1000 block of N. McKinley Road
  • EB 3500 block of 2nd Street S.*
  • NB 1600 block of N. Veitch Street
  • WB 5800 block of Little Falls Road
  • NB 1100 block of Patrick Henry Drive

* Camera location is active during Summer School Program

 

Automated Safety Enforcement FAQs

PhotoSPEED supports Arlington’s ongoing Vision Zero Transportation Safety Program. Where can I find more information on Vision Zero?

The Arlington County Board adopted a resolution committing to the Vision Zero transportation safety approach in 2019. The resolution set forth the path to create a Five-Year Vision Zero Action Plan, which was created over a 1.5-year period (including three community engagement checkpoints) and was adopted by the County Board in May 2021. Implementation of automated safety enforcement, including red-light cameras and speed safety cameras at schools, is reflected in the Vision Zero Action Plan.

 

Are PhotoSPEED cameras enforced 24/7?

No, school zone speed safety cameras are only in zones with flashing school beacons and are only operational when the lights on the speed limit signs are flashing during arrival and departure.

School zones in Arlington are divided into two types of zones in the Arlington’s School Zone Guidelines; dynamic zones and static zones.

All current speed safety cameras are placed in Dynamic School Zones. Dynamic School Zones are on arterial streets and are dynamic, beaconed school zones where a reduced speed limit is applicable during arrival and dismissal times. These arterial streets typically involve higher volumes, speeds, and activity. Speed safety cameras are an appropriate tool for arterial streets due to their higher volumes and speeds.

There are no speed safety cameras placed in Static School Zones. Static School Zones are on neighborhood streets and are static, signed zones where a permanent 20MPH speed limit is applicable all day, every day, year-round. These neighborhood streets are typically characterized by lower traffic volumes and speeds.

For additional information, visit the Automated Safety Enforcement storymap

What is the posted speed limit when PhotoSPEED cameras are operational?

The speed limit at PhotoSPEED camera locations is 20 MPH while the lights on the speed limit signs are flashing during arrival and departure.

Why does my speeding/red-light ticket have mailing addresses for PO Boxes in a different state?

ACPD uses a vendor to process Automated Safety Enforcement violations and tickets. Tickets may reflect mailing addresses for PO Boxes in Seattle, WA and/or Tempe, AZ.

I have other questions regarding my ticket, whom can I contact?

If you have questions regarding your ticket, contact Customer Service at 1-866-790-4111.

 

Will my driving record be impacted by a violation?

No, PhotoSPEED and PhotoRED tickets are civil fines and do not add driver license points or affect insurance.

 

 

Information About Tickets

 View footage of your ticket.

Pay a Ticket

PAYMENT OPTIONS: Tickets can be paid by electronic check (e-check) or credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted). There is no convenience fee for payments made by electronic check. Credit and debit card payments are subject to a convenience fee, charged directly to you by our service provider.

The following payment methods are available 24/7:

PAY ONLINE: Visit www.violationinfo.com and log in with your ticket number and PIN number located on the front of your ticket.

PAY BY PHONE: Call 1-866-790-4111 and select option 1.

Your payment must be received on or before the due date shown on the front of your ticket. If you have any questions regarding payments, please contact Customer Service (toll-free) at 1-(866)-790-4111.

Dispute a Ticket

Tickets are disputed in court and court dates are not automatically scheduled. To dispute a ticket, submit the hearing confirmation form on the back of the ticket. Tickets must be disputed before the due date shown on the front of your ticket.

Certain exceptions may be disputed by submitting an affidavit. An affidavit and information regarding these exceptions can be found on www.violationinfo.com.  

Lost Tickets

Please call 1-866-790-4111 and have your license plate number readily available. You can also email info@violationinfo.com.

 

 

Additional Automated Safety Enforcement Resources

Automated Safety Enforcement 2024 Annual Data(PDF, 413KB)

2024 Red-Light Safety Camera Expansion InfoSheet (en Español)

2024 PhotoSPEED Program Expansion Infosheet(PDF, 378KB) (en Español)(PDF, 365KB)

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration - Speed Safety Cameras