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Senate panel backs bill letting local police enforce speed limits on George Washington Memorial Parkway
Summary
The Senate transportation committee advanced legislation that would let Virginia and county police enforce traffic laws along about 20 miles of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and allow speed cameras if the National Park Service agrees.
The Senate Committee on Transportation on a voice vote advanced Senate Bill 776, which would authorize Fairfax County Police or the Virginia State Police to enforce traffic laws on portions of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and allow placement of speed cameras with National Park Service approval. Senator Servehill, the bill’s patron, said the measure affects “about 20 miles of roadway” and aims to address “people drag racing” and frequent crashes where local officers cannot currently issue tickets.
The bill includes a narrow technical amendment added on the floor of the committee. Servehill said the National Park Service is “open to the idea” of cameras but has declined to install them itself because federal law would require any revenue to go to the U.S. Treasury rather than to the park. The bill’s changes also were written to let violations be handled in state court rather than federal court to avoid taking officers off the road for extra federal proceedings, the patron said.
Committee members asked about the geographic reach and safety conditions on sections of the parkway. Senator Rhone and Senator Rauchmann discussed the roadway’s route near the Beltway, Old Town and Mount Vernon and noted construction and weather closures on parts of the corridor. Senator Diggs compared the bill to similar jurisdictional fixes used on the Colonial Parkway and said the approach has worked elsewhere.
The committee voted to report the bill to the next step with a recorded tally of 10 ayes and 4 noes.
