Madison County will soon be joining numerous other localities with a new feature on U.S. 29–school speed zone cameras.
On Tuesday, supervisors approved an ordinance and contract with Blue Line Solutions (BLS) to install and operate speed cameras in the school zone on U.S. 29 adjacent to Madison County High School. State code allows for speed enforcement via camera in construction and school zones. The ordinance creates a civil process for violations of the cameras, a requirement for localities utilizing the technology. No one spoke during a public hearing on the ordinance.
Violations are civil penalties with a fine of $100 and are not reported to insurance. The cameras capture license plate images of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by at least 10 mph. Those images are then verified by a sworn officer at BLS and sent to a Madison County Sheriff’s Office for verification. Once a deputy approves the violation, it is then sent back to BLS which sends out a summon to the vehicle’s owner utilizing DMV information. When the fine is paid, $75 goes to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office to use for highway safety and $25 is retained by BLS to recoup costs associated with installing and maintaining the equipment. The county does not pay to purchase, install or maintain the equipment.
Blue Line Solutions has 23 partnerships in Virginia. Greene and Orange Counties both have speed cameras in school zones, but utilize different providers. The cameras, once installed, will be operational during school arrival and dismissal times, approximately 7:45-8:15 a.m. and 2:45-3:15 p.m.
