Hey,

Was driving from Old Towne Alexandria today keeping up with traffic as usual on a busy Sunday when I noticed a big white box heading north opposite Raegan Aiport. I immediately recognized this as a speed camera (looks just like the ones I used to know and love in the UK).

This confused me... I didn't know speed cameras were around VA? I knew they were around in DC, but I thought they lost all funding in VA for cameras (and red light cameras) alike...

It confused me more when I see people fly past it at 60mph+! Is someone getting rich off this machine? Or is it inactive?

 

I think they are back, I've seen some survey teams on the ramp of Braddock and 495 the last couple of weeks with things that look like speed detectors and a camera, who knows?

 

Actually, I think those are emissions detectors. They're trying to bust people with bad exhausts, missing cats... etc. There was another thread somewhere on NAM recently with a good discussion of these.

 

There's two of those "cameras" the other is down by the Park Police entrance at the other end of the Parkway (or at least there used to be)... They were in fact cameras that were installed in 1999 - whether or not they are operational is a whole other question. They were when first installed, but honestly I don't think anybody has slowed down for them in at least 5 years...

 

I take GW at least 2X/week and have not received a ticket in the mail as of yet.

 

When we lived out there I passed those cameras with traffic ... um faster than the posted speed limit... and never got a ticket. I don't think I ever saw those things even flash...

I think when they first installed them the cameras worked - but I don't think they worked for long... There were a bunch of news stories about the Park Service putting the cameras in when they were installed. I think they even said how long the cameras were supposed to be active back then, but I honestly don't remember the details anymore..

It's not exactly an uncommon practice in N VA to hang non-functioning cameras in an attempt to get folks to slow down or stop for lights. Alexandria used to have a non-functional camera on US 1 North as you entered Old Town - it was one of the worst kept secrets of the city. The council members used to talk to the Post about that dummy camera all the time.