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Hampton council approves ordinance authorizing red-light photo enforcement
Summary
The council approved Ordinance 22-0363 to allow traffic-signal photo monitoring at select intersections; staff said the system targets peak congestion hours and issues $50 penalties without adding driving points.
City staff presented and the Hampton City Council approved an ordinance to authorize traffic-signal photo monitoring systems, commonly called red-light cameras.
A city staff presenter summarized the ordinance as allowing staff "to implement a program of traffic signal enforcement through photo monitoring systems, more commonly known as right red light cameras," and said localities are authorized by "Virginia code 15.2 dash 6 9 6 9 6 8.1" as read at the meeting. Staff said Hampton could have up to 13 intersections based on the population formula and identified proposed camera locations in the Mallory Street/Phoebus area and the Settlers Landing/downtown area. The presenter said the pilot targets the 3–6 p.m. congestion window and that the penalty for a red-light violation would be $50, which "does not result in any points being added to [a driver's] driving record, and cannot be used to deny insurance coverage."
Councilmembers moved to approve Ordinance 22-0363 and recorded affirmative votes; the motion passed. The presenter distinguished the current ordinance — limited to red-light enforcement — from a separate expanded authority the city is seeking from the General Assembly that would also permit camera-based enforcement for blocking intersections.
The ordinance text, enforcement hours, proposed intersections, and the Virginia code citation were read into the record during the meeting. The council did not amend the ordinance at the meeting and voted to adopt it.
