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Subcommittee adds campus police to toll exemption list for law enforcement after sponsor says omission was unintended
Summary
The subcommittee reported HB 943 to allow campus police to use tolled facilities like other law enforcement agencies; Virginia Tech and toll authority representatives described a narrow operational need and asked for stakeholder coordination before implementation.
A House transportation subcommittee reported HB 943, which would add campus police departments to the list of law enforcement agencies authorized to use tolled facilities in Virginia. The sponsor said campus police had been omitted from the existing code list unintentionally and that the bill corrects that oversight.
Scope and sponsors: Delegate Franklin said the change was requested by Virginia Tech Police because the university’s Innovation Campus in Alexandria and other dispersed properties require occasional use of toll facilities. Elizabeth Hooper and Chief Mac Babb of Virginia Tech testified that only a handful of officers would be affected and that the impact should be minimal.
Toll authority concerns: Michael Cooper of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and Dulles Toll Road noted contractual arrangements and investment‑grade traffic and revenue studies that guide toll commitments; he encouraged discussion with toll authorities to avoid compensation events and suggested coordination rather than immediate statutory change.
Committee action: The committee voted to report HB 943; the chair announced the bill moves forward 9–0 with 1 abstention. Members asked for continued engagement with toll providers prior to final passage.
