Local and state police can enforce traffic laws on a federal road in Northern Virginia — the George Washington Parkway — after a new law went into effect.
Law enforcement agencies such as Virginia State Police and the Fairfax County Police Department have been granted the authority to patrol and enforce traffic laws like speeding, effective July 1.
But just because local and state police can patrol the GW Parkway, that doesn’t necessarily mean they will. Local and state police have yet to be asked to do so.
“When staffing and operational priorities are aligned to do so, we will direct patrols to the GWP,” Virginia State Police said. “At this time, the National Park Service has not requested VSP assistance on the GW Parkway, and we are not actively patrolling it.”
“As we prepare for implementation, the department is working through necessary policy updates, training, operational guidance, and internal approvals to ensure a coordinated transition,” Fairfax County police said.
The new law also allows local police to request and possibly install speed cameras along the parkway.
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, has been pushing for photo enforcement along the road.
“I still do think so, yeah,” he said. “I don’t know what the speed limit is on the northside, but on the southside, the average speed is almost 60 miles per hour, despite a 40 mile per hour. We think it’s all the people from Maryland.”
Currently, speed cameras are only allowed in Virginia in school and work zones. It’s not clear when or how those devices would be set up on the parkway.
