Additional enforcement options for automated speed cameras could be on the Falls Church City Council’s wish list for the 2026 General Assembly.

“We have talked about this and talked about this,” City Council member Laura Downs said of expanding the speed-camera program.

The public supports expansion, Downs said. “We hear this again and again and again,” she said.

Residents blame county leaders for failing to add speed cameras, but “our hands are sort of tied,” Downs said. “We don’t have the ability.”

At the moment, state law mostly limits speed cameras to school zones and work zones. Based on criteria laid out in the Code of Virginia, only one Falls Church school zone qualifies: in front of St. James Catholic School on W. Broad Street.

Last September, city officials activated speed-monitoring cameras on both the eastbound and westbound lanes. People recorded going more than 10 miles over the 20 mph speed limit are mailed $100 civil citations.

The fines can be contested and do not count against DMV records or for insurance purposes.

At a May 21 agenda-setting session , several Council members expressed hope that the legislature would expand localities’ ability to use speed cameras. They said cameras would be helpful on Great Falls Street, Little Falls Street and Maple Avenue.

Before pushing for expansion, the Council will probably seek the views of Falls Church’s legislators: Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim and Del. Marcus Simon.

“Let’s make sure they’re on board, because I’m not sure they are,” Council member David Snyder said. “I haven’t heard much one way or another.”

Snyder said many advocacy groups support expanding the use of speed cameras, but the proposal has run into trouble in Richmond for varying reasons on both sides of the aisle.

“It gets in a political crossfire. So far, that’s created a legislative blocking,” he said.

New traffic signals make their debut

The City of Falls Church is also activating three new pedestrian crossings across Broad Street this week.

High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) traffic signals have been positioned near the intersections of Broad and Oak Street, Fairfax Street and Buxton Street. They can be activated by pedestrians, leading to illumination of signals directing drivers to stop.

There will also be a countdown timer, letting pedestrians know how much time remains to cross safely.

To help pedestrians and drivers understand, city leaders have created a video explaining how the HAWK signals work.