STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday night to adopt a new ordinance that will allow speed and red light cameras in school and highway work zones, a move aimed at improving road safety across the county.
The ordinance, O25-13, amends the county’s motor vehicle code to enable the use of automated photo speed monitoring devices in designated school and work zones and authorizes the placement of red light cameras at intersections. While state law already permits speed enforcement in these zones, a county ordinance was required to allow red light camera enforcement.
Major R. Jason Dembowski of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office led the presentation at the public hearing, emphasizing that the initiative is focused on safety, not revenue generation.
“We do not have enough deputies to monitor every school zone each day,” said Dembowski. “This program allows us to leverage technology to make school zones safer.”
A pilot study at six county schools—including Drew Middle, Colonial Forge High, and Stafford Middle—revealed thousands of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by 10 miles per hour or more during just five days of monitoring. Drew Middle alone saw over 18,000 such violations on Route 1.
Under the new program:
- Speeding violations will carry a civil fine of up to $100.
- Red light violations will result in a civil fine of up to $50.
- Neither offense will impact DMV points or insurance rates.
- Deputies will be required to review all violations before a citation is issued.
The county may install up to 17 red light cameras, based on its population. School zones will be prioritized for both types of enforcement, though intersections with frequent accidents—such as those along Garrisonville Road (Route 610)—may be considered for future red light camera placement.
Several supervisors expressed support, citing concerns about speeding near schools and frequent accidents in high-traffic areas.
Vice Chair Tinesha Allen encouraged the sheriff’s office to consider placing one of the red light cameras along Route 610, calling the road “a choke point” for traffic when collisions occur. Supervisor Monica Gary highlighted a recent crash involving a speeding driver on Courthouse Road near multiple schools as a reason for swift action.
Although the technology will be implemented in phases, county officials and the sheriff’s office acknowledged the need for additional staff to monitor and process camera footage. The sheriff’s office expects to request funding for those positions in the FY27 budget.
With the board’s approval now secured, the sheriff’s office plans to begin vendor selection and infrastructure planning. The first cameras could be operational within six to eight months.
Stafford now follows neighboring Prince William County, which launched its own school zone speed camera program in 2024. As Potomac Local News previously reported, Prince William officials installed cameras near several schools and, after a six-month pilot period, voted to keep the program in place, citing reductions in speeding and positive community feedback.
STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County supports Option C, a proposed new Rappahannock River crossing that promises to reduce traffic and connect Stafford with Fredericksburg, without relying on I-95.
A Bridge Beyond I-95
On June 3, 2025, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted to endorse Option C as the preferred route for a new bridge west of the interstate. The plan would link Celebrate Virginia Parkway in Stafford to Gordon Shelton Boulevard in Fredericksburg—one of five routes examined during a federally backed Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study.
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STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County leaders are preparing to take a major step toward easing long-standing regional traffic woes.
The Board of Supervisors signaled support for Option C in the Rappahannock River Crossing Bridge Project—a plan to construct a new bridge west of Interstate 95. A final vote is scheduled for today, June 3, during the 5 p.m. county Board of Supervisors meeting. It could set the tone for regional collaboration with the City of Fredericksburg, a critical partner in the project.
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STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County residents will see a higher tab when dining out, as the Board of Supervisors voted 4–3 on May 20, 2025, to increase the county’s meals tax from 5% to 6%. The move is expected to generate an additional $3.2 million in annual revenue, all of which will be earmarked for public schools—specifically to support salary increases for teachers and staff.
Heated Debate Over Tax Hike
The vote followed a contentious public hearing and board discussion. Supporters of the increase emphasized the need to fund Stafford County Public Schools amid rising costs and competitive teacher pay demands. Molly Denham, a resident of the Hartwood District, urged the board to approve the measure, citing previous failures to fully fund long-term school employee pay plans.
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STAFFORD, Va. – Local leaders got a closer look at several upcoming road and bridge improvements during the Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting on May 20, 2025. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) shared updates on major projects aimed at improving safety and easing traffic across the county.
Kyle Bates, VDOT’s Fredericksburg District Administrator, led the presentation, walking supervisors through key timelines, construction plans, and current progress. From emergency fixes to long-range upgrades, the report covered some of Stafford’s most heavily traveled areas.
🚧 Route 1 Reopens After Emergency Closures
Emergency lane closures on Route 1 (Cambridge Street) have officially been lifted. The closures were triggered by concerns about the structural integrity of a section of the roadway.
“A load analysis was conducted, and the situation is being monitored,” said Bates, who assured supervisors that VDOT continues to assess the area’s long-term needs.
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STAFFORD, Va. – A surge of public opposition to large-scale data center development dominated the May 20, 2025, Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting, leading county leaders to unanimously order a full review of the rules governing these rapidly expanding facilities.
Following more than an hour of impassioned public comment, the Board adopted Resolution R25-141, directing the Stafford County Planning Commission to revisit and potentially strengthen data center performance standards first enacted in 2023.
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STAFFORD, Va. – The Stafford County Board of Supervisors narrowly approved a $2.95 million warehouse purchase on Blackjack Road, siding with school officials who say the facility is essential to meet the district’s growing infrastructure needs, despite concerns from some supervisors who argued the deal was rushed and overpriced.
In a 4-3 vote, the board passed Resolution R25-105, authorizing Stafford County Public Schools to use leftover funds from its FY2024 budget to buy the building at 42 Blackjack Road. The warehouse currently houses several school division operations, including IT storage, bus driver training, and nutrition services. School leaders say owning the space will end the need to rent it and provide a long-term solution as the division grows.
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STAFFORD, Va. – Concerns over development, infrastructure, education, and environmental protection took center stage at a packed town hall meeting held Tuesday, April 29, at Colonial Forge High School. The meeting brought together Board of Supervisors Chair Deuntay Diggs, Supervisor Tinesha Allen, and School Board members Maureen Siegmund and Maya Guy, who answered questions from roughly 60 residents over two hours.
Development Pressure: Attain at Stafford Draws Scrutiny
One topic that sparked debate was the proposed Attain at Stafford, a mixed-use development that would bring 300 apartments and over 57,000 square feet of commercial space near Stafford Hospital. Though the Planning Commission approved the rezoning request earlier this month, the project still awaits a final vote by the Board of Supervisors.
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STAFFORD, Va. — Stafford County Public Schools officials are asking the Board of Supervisors to approve a $2.95 million property purchase for warehouse and training space currently used by the school division.
The request was discussed during a Board of Supervisors work session on April 22, 2025. Chris Fulmer, Deputy Superintendent and Chief Operating Officer for Stafford County Public Schools, said the division has leased the Blackjack Road facility for the past three to four years. It houses school nutrition services, furniture and technology storage, and a training site for school bus drivers and attendants.
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STAFFORD, Va. — The average homeowner in Stafford County will pay $130 more in property taxes starting July 1, 2025, after the Board of Supervisors approved a three-percent increase to the real estate tax rate—the county’s central funding source for local government and schools. Homeowners with a property assessed at the county average of $434,400 will receive a $4,069 bill.
According to data from Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Mayausky, average residential tax bills have increased 62% since 2012, when the typical homeowner paid $2,506. Over the same period, the average home value rose nearly 60%, slightly trailing the pace of tax increases.
