Fairfax County drivers can expect to see an increase in traffic enforcement this month.
Local law enforcement will revive their Road Shark initiative, which aims to reduce speeding and reckless driving, later in April in conjunction with National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Fairfax County Police Department said.
The first wave of the program, which will see police conducting targeted enforcement in known speeding areas, is scheduled to run from April 20-26.
“These efforts focus on reducing crashes, preventing deaths and serious injuries and improving safety for everyone who travels Fairfax County roadways,” the FCPD said in a blog post.
The program returns after a widely successful 2025 campaign that saw officers issue nearly 50,000 citations and warnings overall, including more than 9,000 in the first week alone. During the first wave, nearly three dozen arrests were made for intoxicated driving, and more than 100 felony charges were ultimately levied against drivers.
Those figures are up from the prior year, which saw officers issue a total of approximately 35,000 citations and warnings, about 5,700 of which were handed out during the program’s first week.
“Through diligent efforts, our officers and Virginia State Troopers play a crucial role in ensuring Fairfax County roads are safer by cracking down on reckless driving,” the FCPD said last year. “… These drivers pose serious risks to themselves and others.”
FCPD officers will also participate in a national “U Drive, U Text, U Pay” campaign that aims to counter distracted driving, in addition to highlighting an “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different” campaign to curb driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances.
“With spring bringing more drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians outdoors,” FCPD said, “these initiatives serve as an important reminder that safe driving choices help protect everyone on the road.”
To date, more than 2,000 crashes have occurred in Fairfax County this year, with roughly one-fourth of them being reported as speed-related, according to state crash data.
Photo via Fairfax County Police Department/Flickr
