If you drove in Fairfax County this year and noticed more police on the roads during certain weeks, that was on purpose. The county’s Road Shark traffic safety campaign has wrapped up for 2026, and the final count is big.
The Numbers
FFXnow reported that the Fairfax County Police Department issued 60,818 citations and warnings during its 2026 Road Shark campaign. The campaign began in April and ran in four waves of stepped-up enforcement.
According to the FCPD’s release:
- The fourth and final wave, October 12–18, produced 19,272 citations and warnings.
- This year’s total is a 23% increase over 2025, when officers issued about 50,000.
- Fairfax County officers and Virginia State Police troopers worked together on the campaign.
- Road Shark resulted in hundreds of DWI arrests and citations for reckless driving and unlawful use of handheld devices while driving.
FFXnow notes the campaign first launched in 1999 and returned in 2023, after the county recorded 66 traffic deaths in 2022, nearly half of them pedestrians.
If you’re a Fairfax County driver who got a ticket during one of these waves, our Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic may be part of your next step. More on that below.
What Police Were Looking For
The FCPD’s closing advice was simple: “Plan ahead, stay focused behind the wheel, obey posted speed limits, and never drive under the influence.” Here’s what Virginia law says about two of the violations the campaign highlighted.
### Reckless Driving by Speed
Under Virginia Code § 46.2-862, driving 20 mph or more over the speed limit, or faster than 85 mph regardless of the limit, is reckless driving. Many drivers think of reckless driving as weaving or racing, but in Virginia, speed alone can be enough.
### Holding a Phone While Driving
Virginia Code § 46.2-818.2 makes it unlawful to hold a handheld personal communications device while driving a moving vehicle on Virginia highways. There are limited exceptions, such as being lawfully parked or stopped or reporting an emergency. Holding the phone counts, even if you aren’t talking or texting.
The same section says a court may order completion of a driver improvement clinic in lieu of a conviction, but only for a first violation. Whether that’s offered in your case is up to the court.
Habits That Keep You Out of the Next Wave
Enforcement campaigns end, but the risks they target don’t. A few habits go a long way:
- Set your phone before you shift into drive. Mount it, start navigation, and leave it alone.
- Watch your speed on fast stretches. On a 55-mph road, 75 mph is already reckless driving by speed.
- Plan a sober ride before you go out. Decide how you’re getting home before the first drink.
- Watch for pedestrians, especially at night and near crosswalks, bus stops, and shopping areas.
- Leave earlier. A lot of speeding starts with running late, so build in a few extra minutes for busy roads like the Beltway.
Got a Ticket? Your Options
A traffic ticket in Virginia can lead to demerit points on your DMV record. If a court orders you to complete a driver improvement clinic, the Virginia DMV says the court decides whether you’ll be awarded safe driving points. You must give the clinic your documentation from the court before DMV can award points.
Our Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic is DMV-approved, online, and self-paced, and completion is reported to the DMV automatically. You can take it if a court or the DMV has ordered you to complete a clinic, or voluntarily, and completing it may earn you safe driving points. Always confirm the specific requirements for your case with the court or the DMV.
For more Fairfax County traffic news, read our post on the county’s 20 mph speed limit pilot.
The Bottom Line
Sixty thousand stops is a lot of drivers learning the hard way. Slow down, put the phone away, and plan a sober ride, and you’ll stay safer whether or not a campaign is running.
Need to complete a driver improvement clinic? Start the Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic online.
