Alexandria School Zone Speed & Crossing Guard Rules

Public Safety Virginia 4 Minutes Read · published February 21, 2026 Flag of Virginia

Alexandria, Virginia requires reduced speeds and organized crossing-guard programs at many school sites to protect students, staff and families. This guide explains how school zones are managed in Alexandria, who enforces the rules, what penalties and procedures apply, and how to report problems or apply for changes to signs or crossings. It summarizes official city resources, describes common violations, and lists steps to take if you need to request a crossing guard, contest a ticket, or ask for a speed change near a school.

Overview

School zone speed limits and crossing guard assignments in Alexandria are administered through the city departments responsible for traffic engineering and public safety. Crossing guards assist students at marked crossings, and school zone speed limits are posted where established by the city. Specific operational details, schedules, and the crossing guard program are published by the Alexandria Police Department and the city traffic/transportation office for residents and schools to follow. For program details and contact information, see the Alexandria Police crossing guard program page and the Transportation and Environmental Services traffic engineering pages. Learn more.[1] See traffic engineering.[2]

Crossing guards are posted at locations determined by the city after field review.

Penalties & Enforcement

The city enforces school zone speed limits and pedestrian crossing rules through uniformed officers, traffic officers, and automated or manual enforcement where authorized. The Alexandria Police Department is the primary enforcer for on-street violations; Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) manages signs and engineering decisions. For enforcement contacts and program oversight, refer to the city pages cited above.[1][2]

  • Fines: dollar amounts for school zone speeding and crossing violations are not specified on the cited city pages; see the enforcing agency or citation for the exact fine amount.
  • Escalation: the city pages do not list a published escalation schedule for first, repeat, or continuing offences; this information is not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: officers may issue warnings, orders to correct unsafe behavior, or refer cases to court; seizure or license points are governed by state motor-vehicle statutes and by citation terms (not specified on the cited city pages).
  • Enforcer and complaint pathway: Alexandria Police handles on-street enforcement and complaints; Transportation and Environmental Services manages signage and engineering requests. To report an unsafe crossing or request a review, contact the city departments linked in Resources.
  • Appeals and review: procedures for contesting a citation or seeking administrative review are not detailed on the city program pages; individuals should follow the instructions printed on the citation or contact the Alexandria Police records/parking violations unit for appeal time limits.
If you receive a citation, follow the citation instructions immediately to preserve appeal rights.

Common violations and typical outcomes

  • Speeding in a posted school zone — typically results in a citation; exact fine amount is not specified on the cited page.
  • Failing to yield at a marked school crossing — may result in a citation or warning and referral to court.
  • Illegal passing of a stopped school bus near a school — enforced under state motor vehicle law and by local officers; specific penalties are governed by statute and/or the citation.

Applications & Forms

The city does not publish a universal permit form for establishing a school zone or hiring crossing guards on the program pages cited; requests are handled by Transportation and Environmental Services for sign/location reviews and by the Alexandria Police Department for crossing-guard staffing. If a specific application form exists it is not specified on the cited page; contact the departments linked in Resources to obtain any required forms or submission instructions.

How crossing guards and school zones are set or changed

  • The city evaluates requests for new or relocated crossings based on engineering studies, visibility, and student walking patterns.
  • Sign changes and speed limit postings follow an on-site assessment; timelines vary by workload and are handled by T&ES.
  • Requests from schools, parents, or residents are accepted via department contact pages and are logged for review.
Engineering review determines whether a crossing guard or additional signage is required at a location.

FAQ

Who decides where a school crossing guard is posted?
Alexandria Police in coordination with Transportation and Environmental Services determine crossing guard locations after field review and risk assessment.
What is the posted speed in school zones?
Posted school zone speeds vary by location; the city posts signs where a school zone has been established. The specific posted limits are shown on the signs and are not listed as a single value on the cited city pages.
How do I request a crossing guard or a speed review?
Contact Transportation and Environmental Services for a sign or engineering review and Alexandria Police for crossing guard requests using the department contact pages in Resources.

How-To

  1. Identify the crossing or school location and note days/times of concern.
  2. Collect photos or observations showing student pedestrian patterns and any visibility or traffic hazards.
  3. Contact Transportation and Environmental Services to request an engineering review using the city contact page.
  4. If requesting a crossing guard, contact Alexandria Police to submit the staffing request and any supporting documentation.
  5. Follow up with the departments if you do not receive acknowledgement within two weeks of your request.

Key Takeaways

  • City departments jointly manage school zones: T&ES for signs and engineering, Alexandria Police for enforcement and guards.
  • Specific fine amounts and escalation schedules are not published on the cited city program pages; check the citation or contact the enforcing agency.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Alexandria Police - School Crossing Guard Program
  2. [2] City of Alexandria Transportation and Environmental Services - Traffic Engineering

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