Fairfax County police officers and Virginia State Police troopers issued 60,818 citations and warnings to drivers in 2026 as part of the Road Shark traffic enforcement campaign, the department announced Oct. 23.

The total marks a 23% increase over 2025, when officers issued approximately 50,000 citations and warnings, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. The four-wave campaign began in April and wrapped up with its final enforcement push Oct. 12-18.

That fourth wave alone produced 19,272 citations and warnings, the department said in a press release.

The campaign targeted speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving and impaired driving in areas known for traffic hazards. It produced hundreds of arrests for driving while intoxicated and citations for reckless driving and unlawful use of handheld devices, according to the department.

Wave 3, conducted Aug. 10-16, had been the largest single enforcement effort of 2026 with 16,235 citations and warnings, the Fairfax Times reported. The fourth wave surpassed it by roughly 3,000.

The campaign is a joint effort between Fairfax County police and Virginia State Police troopers, who conducted enhanced patrols throughout each wave.

Why it came back

Road Shark first launched in 1999 and was revived in 2023 after Fairfax County recorded 66 traffic-related deaths in 2022, nearly half of them pedestrians, as FFXnow reported. That remains the highest annual toll since the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles began tracking data through its online Traffic Records Electronic Data System in 2010.

Preliminary state data shows 42 fatalities so far in 2026, though not all crashes have been recorded yet, according to FFXnow. In June alone, 10 people died in traffic incidents, including five deaths over two days.

"Plan ahead, stay focused behind the wheel, obey posted speed limits, and never drive under the influence," the department said.

McLean-area residents can report non-emergency concerns to Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131.