Starting August 21, Leesburg drivers who speed through school zones may find themselves caught on camera — and after a short grace period, facing a $100 fine.
The Leesburg Police Department is launching its new, state-approved School Zone Speed Safety Program just in time for the start of the school year. The goal: slow drivers down where kids and pedestrians are most at risk.
Here’s how it works: cameras will monitor school zones during the exact hours the flashing lights are on. If you’re over the posted speed limit, the system will snap photos and video. For the first 30 days, offenders will get a warning in the mail. After September 22, it’s a $100 ticket.
Police Chief Thea Pirnat says it’s about prevention, not punishment:
“Ensuring the safety of our students and residents is a top priority. This initiative is about changing driver behavior and making our streets safer, particularly in areas where children and other vulnerable road users are present.”
The camera locations weren’t picked at random. The department analyzed traffic speeds, car counts, and pedestrian crossings to find hot spots — not just near school entrances, but anywhere in town where heavy traffic and foot traffic overlap.
Camera locations:
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Ball’s Bluff Elementary – Battlefield Parkway NE
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John W. Tolbert Jr. Elementary / Harper Park Middle School – Potomac Station Drive NE
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Loudoun County High School – Dry Mill Road SW and Catoctin Circle SW
Officers will still patrol school zones the old-fashioned way, but Chief Pirnat says the technology makes it possible to keep watch even when an officer isn’t there. Every violation will still be reviewed by an officer before a ticket is sent out.
With school back in session, it’s a good time to remember that those flashing lights mean slow down — not just for your wallet, but for the kids crossing the street.
