VirginiaSB842026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Photo speed monitoring devices, etc.; placement and operation, civil penalty, report.

Sponsored By: Angelia Williams Graves (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Photo speed monitoring devices, pedestrian crossing violation monitoring systems, and stop sign violation monitoring systems; placement and operation; violation enforcement; civil penalties. Authorizes state and local law-enforcement agencies to place and operate pedestrian crossing violation and stop sign violation monitoring systems in school crossing zones, highway work zones, and high-risk speed corridors for purposes of recording pedestrian crossing and stop sign violations, as those terms are defined in the bill. The bill requires local law-enforcement agencies implementing or expanding the use of pedestrian crossing violation and stop sign violation monitoring systems, prior to the implementation or expansion of such systems, to conduct a public awareness program for such implementation or expansion.The bill directs the Supreme Court of Virginia to develop a summons for vehicle speed violations captured by photo speed monitoring devices and violations captured by the other devices authorized by this bill and requires summonses issued for such violations captured by such devices to be such summons. The bill makes various changes to the requirements for the use of these devices, including the use of funds from collected civil penalties, signage, data retention and storage, photo speed monitoring device calibration, making certain information available to the public, requirements for private vendors, and reporting. The bill establishes civil penalties for violations of requirements and provides that, for any summons issued, failure to comply with the requirements for the operation of such devices renders such summons invalid and requires courts to dismiss such summons.The bill also limits the use of such devices in highway work zones to when workers are present, as defined in the bill, and provides that a certificate sworn to or affirmed by a law-enforcement officer or a retired sworn law-enforcement officer is not prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein for a device placed in a highway work zone unless the operator of the photo speed monitoring device, pedestrian crossing violation monitoring system, or stop sign violation monitoring system, respectively, provides a sworn certification verifying that workers were present at the time of the violation.

Transportation

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Signs, warnings, and public notice

Starting July 1, 2027, there must be at least two clear signs within 1,000 feet of any camera location. For speed cameras, one sign must display your speed. For new speed cameras placed after July 1, 2026, agencies must mail warnings (no fines) for the first 30 days. Before adding or expanding pedestrian or stop‑sign camera systems, local police must run a public awareness program.

Where police can use traffic cameras

Police may use speed, pedestrian‑crossing, and stop‑sign cameras only in school zones, highway work zones, and certain high‑risk intersections. Work zones are enforced only when workers are present. A high‑risk intersection must have a traffic death since January 1, 2014 and be certified by the agency.

How fine money is used and reported

Fines from local camera tickets stay with the locality and must first cover program costs; extra goes to a local traffic‑safety fund prioritized for work zones, high‑risk intersections, and school zones. For State Police tickets after July 1, 2026, money goes to the Literary Fund to cover State Police program costs; extra goes to the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program. Agencies must post how to contest and pay, give a public contact, and announce new device locations. Each agency must keep an emergency plan, follow U.S. DOT guidance, and review sites each year for safety and equity. Agencies report by November 15 each year; State Police report to the General Assembly by December 15 and post results. Projects started before July 1, 2026 keep their funding.

Stronger privacy for DMV records

The DMV may give camera operators only limited owner and vehicle details for enforcement: name, physical address, and vehicle title/registration info (email if on file). Privileged DMV data cannot be used for civil immigration enforcement without your consent or a court order; if shared under an order, DMV must notify you within three business days and disclose only specific records. Any data‑sharing deal must state the allowed use and bar third‑party sharing beyond that purpose. State Police access is limited to criminal‑justice use by approved S‑ORI entities, and DMV can block new access. If someone receives DMV data unlawfully, they must not share it and must report it to DMV.

Rules and penalties for camera vendors

Vendors must be paid for the value of goods and services, not per ticket or penalties. If a vendor mails tickets, it may charge only postage and an electronic‑payment convenience fee up to 5% of the civil penalty. Vendors may obtain owner data from the DMV but must protect it. If a vendor fails to send required calibration proof to the driver and the court within 10 days of request, it faces a $1,000 civil penalty per failure, paid to the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

Camera data privacy and deletion

Agencies may collect only data needed to enforce a violation and must keep it in a protected database. They cannot make it public, sell it, or use it for marketing. Data must be deleted within 60 days unless a summons is issued; if issued, data may be kept until payment or final case outcome. Agencies and vendors must certify compliance each year and allow audits. Anyone who improperly discloses personal information faces a $1,000 civil penalty per disclosure.

Camera tickets: fines and who pays

If a camera records you at least 10 mph over the limit, the civil penalty is up to $100. In a highway work zone, a fine applies only if workers were present. If a ticket is mailed, the owner, lessee, or renter is presumed the driver, but you can rebut by affidavit, court testimony, or a certified theft report. A penalty from a mailed summons is not a conviction, is not on your driving record, and cannot be used for insurance. An officer’s in‑person ticket that leads to conviction does go on your record and may affect insurance.

Your rights for mailed camera tickets

The Supreme Court must create a standard summons. Mailed notices include how to contest, and you get at least 30 days to inspect evidence and device‑calibration proof. If no summons is executed within 30 days, the agency must delete the data within 60 days. A sworn camera certificate is prima facie evidence, but only if school‑zone signs show in the images or the operator certifies workers were present in a work zone. If the agency breaks these rules, the court must dismiss the summons. The standard summons is due by October 1, 2026 and must be used starting January 1, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Angelia Williams Graves

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 268 • No: 104

Senate vote 3/12/2026

House substitute agreed to by Senate

Yes: 22 • No: 17

House vote 3/12/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 63 • No: 35

House vote 3/11/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 67 • No: 32

House vote 3/5/2026

Reported from Transportation with substitute

Yes: 17 • No: 4

House vote 3/3/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 8 • No: 2

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 27 • No: 11

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/10/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 13 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Senate vote 1/15/2026

Reported from Transportation and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 11 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0967)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 967 (Effective - see bill)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB84)

    4/1/2026Senate
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026Senate
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB84ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. House substitute agreed to by Senate

    3/12/2026Senate
  11. Passed House with substitute (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

    3/12/2026House
  12. Delegate Seibold Floor amendment withdrawn

    3/12/2026House
  13. Read third time

    3/12/2026House
  14. Floor Offered

    3/12/2026House
  15. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB84)

    3/12/2026Senate
  16. Passed by for the day

    3/11/2026House
  17. Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

    3/11/2026House
  18. Passed House with substitute (67-Y 32-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026House
  19. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    3/11/2026House
  20. committee substitute agreed to

    3/11/2026House
  21. Read third time

    3/11/2026House
  22. Passed by for the day

    3/10/2026House
  23. Reconsideration of motion to rerefer to committee agreed to

    3/9/2026House
  24. Rereferred to Transportation

    3/9/2026House
  25. Motion to rerefer to Transportation agreed to

    3/9/2026House

Bill Text

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