Washington D.C. Has Stop Sign Cameras in School Zones to Protect Students

Map of Washington, DC Stop Sign Cameras Above

stop sign cameras map

Washington D.C. is stepping up enforcement in school zones with a new plan to install 32 stop sign cameras throughout the city. Announced by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the initiative is aimed at increasing driver compliance and enhancing child safety near schools.

The move comes as part of D.C.’s broader Vision Zero strategy, which seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2024. The city has already implemented speed cameras and red-light cameras — now, stop sign enforcement cameras are being added to the mix.

Why Stop Sign Cameras in School Zones?

According to DDOT, many drivers fail to make complete stops at stop signs, especially during busy school drop-off and pickup hours. These violations put children, crossing guards, and pedestrians at risk.

Stop sign cameras use automated license plate recognition and video capture to detect violations. If a driver rolls through or completely ignores a stop sign, a citation is automatically issued.

Where Will the Stop Sign Cameras Be Installed?

The DDOT has identified 32 high-risk school zones for installation. While the specific locations haven’t all been made public, the city says areas were selected based on:

• Historical crash data

• Community complaints

• Proximity to schools and crosswalks

• Traffic volume and pedestrian density

The goal is to target problem areas where non-compliance has led to near-misses or actual accidents.

How Much Is the Fine for a Stop Sign Violation?

Drivers caught by stop sign cameras in Washington D.C. could face fines of up to $100 per violation. The fines are civil penalties and do not add points to a driver’s license, but non-payment can lead to increased penalties or vehicle registration issues.

When Will the Cameras Be Active?

The cameras are expected to begin rolling out in late summer 2025, with full activation citywide by the start of the new school year in Fall 2025.

Community Response and Safety Impact

Parents and school administrators have expressed strong support for the new cameras, citing ongoing safety concerns during student arrival and dismissal times. Studies from other cities show that automated enforcement can lead to 30–50% reductions in stop sign violations.

Conclusion

Washington D.C.’s decision to install stop sign cameras in school zones is a proactive step toward safer streets. As enforcement ramps up, drivers should expect stricter compliance monitoring and should make full stops at all signed intersections — especially near schools.

Stop Sign Cameras: What You Need to Know:

Stop sign cameras have become an essential tool in modern traffic enforcement, helping to reduce accidents and improve road safety. These devices are strategically placed at intersections with stop signs to capture violations and issue fines to drivers who fail to come to a complete stop. If you're curious about how stop sign cameras work, where they're commonly installed, and what penalties you might face for running a stop sign, this article covers all the key details.

What Are Stop Sign Cameras? 

Red Light Camera Warning Signs

Ever wonder why there are warning signs for red-light cameras at some intersections but not all? According to VC§ 21455.5(a) (1), “Warning signs must be posted at each camera-equipped intersection and visible to traffic approaching from all directions, or at all the main entrances to town including, at a minimum, freeways, bridges, and state highway routes." The purpose of the law is obviously to make sure that drivers are warned in all instances where there is red light camera enforcement, and the seemingly most obvious way to warn a driver is to post a warning sign say overhead on a traffic signal head, but the law doesn’t require it.

The law does require that warning signs be posted, but the law gives cities the choice in where to post the signs and the law is vague as to how CLOSE to the intersection the signs have to be posted (provided the city decides to post the signs at the intersection). According to the Cal Trans design, the signs must be at least 30 inches wide by 40 inches high and 6 feet off the ground but there is no requirement as to the distance a sign must be posted in relation to an intersection. Warning signs will not always be posted right at an intersection so drivers should be on the lookout for such signs when entering a city or exiting from a freeway off-ramp. If you do get a red light photo ticket you should go back and search for warning signs and if you can’t find anywhere they are supposed to be or the signs are there but they are not the right size or are blocked or damaged in such a way that they are not visible, then take photographs so you can dispute the ticket. If the signs weren’t posted in accordance with the law (VC§ 21455.5(a) (1) ) then as a result you weren’t given the required notice and more importantly, a foundational requirement (warning signs) for the camera enforcement system is lacking. - blog Submitted by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.

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Photo Enforced Sign Meaning

Washington DC Wins the Photo Enforcement 2014 Award Surpassing Chicago

Washington DC - Speed Cameras, Red Light Cameras, Crosswalk Cameras, Stop Sign Cameras & Toll Road Cameras

Washington DC has surpassed Chicago this year as the most densely populated photo enforced city.  They no have by far the most speed cameras, stop sign cameras and red light cameras per capita.   Chicago can definitely thank Rahm Emanuel for the huge increase in camera activity.  Who does Washington DC have to thank for the increase in cameras?    Which states allow speed cameras?

DC Installing Stop Sign Cameras

Come to A Complete Stop at Intersections Like This

Washington D.C.'s Police Chief Cathy Lanier said that MPD would look to install between eight and 10 Stop sign cameras before the end of the year.  D.C. has become notorious as an area that generates huge profits off of photo enforcement tickets. Red light cameras and speeding cameras are installed in numerous parts of the city. There is a new kind of automated photo enforcement that is set to hit the city, and it will be targeting one of the most common violations while behind the wheel: rolling through a stop sign.

PhotoEnforced.com currently has 28 stop sign cameras listed on its website.  The web site allows anyone to search the database and add new locations.   

Stop Sign Cameras

Photo Enforced Stop Sign Camera

Photo Enforced Stop Sign Camera Sensor

Photo enforced stop sign cameras are in operation in a few locations in California but a growing trend of cities desperate for money may change that soon. Stop sign cameras are issuing minor cities in these Southern California cities: Los Angeles, Topanga, and Pacific Palisades.  This intersection pictured above is in the Temescal Canyon Gateway Park.  We are aware of two other cameras which are located in Franklin Canyon, located off of Mulholland Drive, and another at the top of Topanga. Failure to come to a complete stop or roll through an intersection like this will get you a ticket of $125 in the mail.  Pictured above is a maroon camera in the background and the sensors just before the stop sign.   Photo enforced stop sign cameras are in operation in a few locations in California but a growing trend of cities desperate for money may change that soon.

Rolling right turn cameras are another trend that is growing and these fines are typically around $150 in California.  Running a red light camera on the other hand will get you a fine of nearly $500.  You can access tour entire database of stop sign cameras throughout the USA by searching our database at PhotoEnforced.com.