Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - A bill that would give localities the ability to place speed cameras in “any location deemed necessary” has been taken up by the Virginia General Assembly.
The proposed legislation was introduced by Democratic Delegate Michael Jones of the 77th District. In an interview with our partners at 8News, Jones said the bill would seek to also focus on speeding in “high injury networks” of the state – places where high numbers of people are killed and injured in crashes.
“We’ve got to place [speed cameras] in high injury network areas where we have seen by data and where it is supported by science,” Jones said. “This is where speeding happens, these are the areas in which individuals are injured or property damage or whatever…not just one fatality.”
Jones said he has received concerns from the community, as well as those on both sides of the General Assembly with questions about where the speed cameras will be placed. He has also been asked if it is a money incentive for localities or a specific initiative for neighborhoods of color.
“The answer to really most of those, if not all of those questions is, no,” Jones said. “At least if we did this in Richmond, based upon the information that we’ve collected within Parks and Department of Public Works, it would focus on the high injury network, and that would be your Midlothian Turnpike, Hull Street, Chamber Avenue, Richmond Highway, because that’s where we see a lot of the accidents are resulting from speed.”
