NEW KENT — More than 50,000 drivers have been clocked speeding in a 10-mile work zone on Interstate 64 in New Kent County since speed cameras went into effect in August.
The continued speeding — combined with vehicle wrecks in the work zone — have prompted county Sheriff Lee Bailey to request a dedicated traffic unit with the intent of helping to enforce violations.
There are currently two segments of the interstate under construction for the I-64 Gap Widening project — a $756 million, six-year effort to expand the highway from two lanes to three between Hampton Roads and metro Richmond. In July, the New Kent Sheriff’s Office began using automated cameras in the area under construction in the county.
While construction workers are present, the speed limit is 60 mph. Outside of construction hours, the speed limit is 70 mph.
After a month’s warning, the county began issuing $100 tickets for anyone driving 11 mph over the work zone speed limit on Aug. 12. Through Sept. 25, the cameras captured more than 48,000 violations, Bailey told the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 29. He expected the updated figure to be higher.
Flashing electronic signs along Interstate 64 warn motorists when they need to drop their speed in the construction zone. (Kim O’Brien Root/The Tidewater Review)
Bailey said the cameras are clocking between 11,000 and 13,000 speeding violations in the work zone every week. There are 20 to 30 cases a week of drivers going over 90 mph, which can result in jail sentences, he said.
“We are still seeing speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour through (photo enforcement), and we are seeing speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour with the deputies and the troopers,” Bailey said.
Bailey said photo enforcement in school zones cut speeding by 95%, but he does not expect a similar reduction in the I-64 construction zone because many drivers are from outside the area. “Our crashes have dropped a little bit,” he said.
Bailey recommended using revenues raised from speeding enforcement to fund a six-member traffic unit costing just over $1.3 million. “Obviously, that’s a lot of manpower hours trying to go in and approve violations,” Bailey said. “My recommendation would be to use some of that revenue generated from the photo speed enforcement to help cover those costs.”
Virginia State Police will eventually take over photo speed enforcement on I-64, which was the original plan, he said.
Bailey said he’s worried about seeing another increase in crashes when construction on another 10-mile stretch of the interstate begins next month. There’s been about an 85% rise in serious wrecks since construction work began, he has said.
Related Articles
Traffic cameras to aim at speeders in I-64 work zones
New Kent plans to use speed cameras in I-64 construction zones
If you speed on I-64 in New Kent, your warning time is up
Some Hampton Roads cities are making millions from speed cameras. State lawmakers voice concerns.
The sheriff made a plea to the Board of Supervisors for an increase in personnel, saying a shift of three deputies is insufficient to meet pressures in the fast-growing county. As it is, the increasing numbers of crashes, including those without injuries, are being handled by the sheriff’s department rather than state police because of shortages in the state agency, Bailey said.
New Kent leaders, meanwhile, believe the photo enforcement program will deliver millions of additional dollars to the county.
“I see a significant increase in revenues to what we’re already receiving,” County Administrator Rodney Hathaway said. He is working on a plan to set aside revenues to meet an increase in demand.
Board Chair Thomas Evelyn asked whether the county could hire part-time workers to help deal with the speeding tickets.
The 48,000 violations would net the county about $4.8 million if all of the violators paid up, a scenario Supervisor Amy Pearson said was unlikely. Pearson suggested that the money be used to fund the traffic unit for several years until the state police took over photo enforcement.
In his request to increase the number of deputies, Bailey outlined additional pressures on his department. He said the county’s decision to send its inmates to the Pamunkey Regional Jail instead of the New Kent-based Henrico Regional Jail saved the county just over $826,500 a year, but tied up more deputies on out-of-hours transfers. Last year, he said, deputies made 320 after-hours trips to the Pamunkey jail, which is 35 miles away.
New Kent has not used Henrico’s Regional Jail East since 2024 after it demanded a fee increase.
Bailey said the minimum staffing of three deputies per shift is below where it should be. He would like to get to a minimum of five to cover the county, he said.
Bailey is also seeking two part-time positions for court and civil process costing just over $105,000. Currently there are nine deputies in the court area, with one part-time staff member.
The Board of Supervisors did not take any action on the issue at the Sept. 29 work session.
David Macaulay, Davidmacaulayva@gmail.com
