James City County to Deploy Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras at Seven Schools

County hopes to reduce dangerous driving near schools, no upfront expense for $75K systems

Aug 08, 2025

Home - Blue Line Solutions — Blue Line Solutions will begin installing automated speed enforcement equipment in school zones across James City County ahead of the 2025–2026 school year, targeting excessive speeding with $100 civil citations reviewed by local officers. (Courtesy Blue Line Solutions LLC)

Automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras are set to begin operating near several James City County schools later this month, with the system going live on August 25, 2025, to coincide with the first day of the 2025–2026 school year. The James City County Police Department confirmed that its ASE vendor, Blue Line Solutions (BLS), has completed permitting and will begin installing cameras, signage, and radar equipment in designated school zones in the coming days. The County states that the equipment will be clearly marked, and mopre public notification campaigns will accompany the pending installation.

Drivers exceeding the posted school zone speed limits by 10 mph or more during active flashing light hours will receive a $100 civil citation, subject to review by a sworn officer. No points will be assessed on the driver's license, and insurance will not be affected. A 30-day warning period will precede enforcement, during which violators will receive mailed warnings instead of fines.

The James City County Board of Supervisors authorized the program in September 2024, approving a contract with Blue Line Solutions as part of its consent calendar during the September 10 meeting.

A memorandum from Police Chief Mark Jamison recommended the agreement, which outlines that there is no cost to the County for implementation or operation, and the County will retain proceeds from citations, minus processing fees.

Seven schools chosen for program

ASE cameras will be installed near the following schools:Here are the addresses for the listed schools in James City County, Virginia:

Toano Middle School, 7817 Richmond Road, Toano, VA 23168
Norge Elementary School, 7311 Richmond Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188
Stonehouse Elementary School, 3651 Rochambeau Drive, Toano, VA 23168
D.J. Montague Elementary School, 5380 Centerville Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188
Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School, 3131 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185
James River Elementary School, 8901 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, VA 23185
Lafayette High School, 4460 Longhill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188

Blue Line Solutions: Technology and Mission

Founded in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Blue Line Solutions, LLC (BLS) describes itself as a mission-driven traffic safety company. Their goal, expressed in the slogan “Striving for Zero: Zero crashes, Zero injuries, Zero fatalities in our school zones,” emphasizes education and deterrence over citation revenue. They typically install their automated enforcement programs at no upfront cost to localities.

BLS provides and manages several enforcement systems:

ASE System: Stationary camera and radar units detecting and photographing speeding vehicles
Manned Photo Laser System (MPL): Officer-operated cameras using LIDAR
Automated Photo Speed Trailer (AST): Mobile trailer systems for enforcement in high-risk areas

These systems automatically document violations and deliver detailed reports and evidence to designated officers for review before citations are issued, states BLS. In addition to traffic safety, the company offers license plate recognition (ALPR) and other surveillance systems as part of its broader public safety offerings.

A brochure identifying Blue Line Solutions as a “Premier Partner” of the Virginia Association of Counties (Courtesy Blue Line Systems / Virginia Association of Counties)

Results from Other Virginia Localities

Implementation of Blue Line Systems’ technology has already made impact in other localaties in Virginia, according to the Virginia Association of Counties (VACO). On their website, they share information and videos about other Virginia jurisdictions that report significant speed reductions after implementing BLS systems:

One Virginia police chief shared that over 12,000 violations were recorded in a single test week, but citations quickly dropped after enforcement began.
Several counties reported 90% drops in school zone speeders during enforcement hours.
Crossing guards and police chiefs in various areas said the program has “made a huge difference” in behavior.
Data transparency and community outreach via websites, school communications, and utility bills were often cited as key benefits.
Multiple agencies emphasized resident approval and a strong reduction in repeat violations.

Program Costs

The contract between James City County and BLS is for four years, with a possible two-year extension. Either party may terminate the agreement with 30 days’ notice after the first year, though the County cannot terminate without cause during the initial 12 months. If the County ends the agreement early, it must reimburse BLS for unrecovered equipment costs, which are valued at $75,000 per ASE system.

This figure reflects the installation, infrastructure, and system development for each unit and is amortized over the initial contract term through citation processing revenue.

BLS will charge $15 per processed citation, deducted from fine collections.
An optional $2 per violation information sheet and a $5.90 payment convenience fee (paid by the violator) may also apply.
The County is responsible for officer review of violations and managing the program locally.
BLS will provide ALPR cameras and radar speed signs equal to the number of ASE systems deployed.

Monthly financial reporting and educational campaigns are also included in BLS’s services, along with expert witness support for contested citations.

Next Steps

With installation beginnig soon, the County plans to issue public notifications and educational materials before enforcement begins. According to police officials, the goal of the program is simple: to save lives by slowing drivers down where it matters most—around children and schools.