Motorcoach Information
Background
The City of Alexandria welcomes all visitors and tourists who visit the City by motorcoach or by tour bus. However, to preserve and maintain the beauty, ambience and tranquility of Alexandria’s historic and residential areas, the City is working to manage motorcoaches and tour buses and balance their operational needs with measures to limit intrusive effects on the City's neighborhoods, environment, and quality of life.
This page, alexandriava.gov/motorcoach, is designed to keep residents informed about the City’s current and long-term motorcoach management efforts, and will be frequently updated with news and information.
Current Motorcoach Management Efforts
The Alexandria Police Department conducts regular enforcement and may conduct targeted campaigns to focus on idling, double-parking and unlawful loading/unloading practices of motorcoaches throughout Alexandria.
When managing motorcoaches, the Alexandria Police Department focuses on three particular violations:
- Idling longer than 15 minutes is prohibited by Virginia Code §46.2-1224.1 subject to a $50 fine. Additionally, City Code 9-12-164 stipulates that buses parked in designated spots must turn off their motors when parked.
- Double parking; stopping so as to obstruct traffic and stopping to load or unload passengers in the traveled portion of any street are prohibited according to City Code 10-4-4, 10-4-5 and 10-4-15. The penalty is a $200 fine.
- Tour and sight-seeing buses may not use locations other than designated parking spaces according to City Code 9-12-162. The penalty is a $100 fine.
- To report a motorcoach-related problem, please use the Alexandria Police Department Complaint Form or call the Police Department non-emergency number at 703.838.4444.
Motorcoach Task Force
This enforcement initiative reflects the implementation of recommendations developed by the City’s Ad Hoc Motorcoach Task Force and the City’s Traffic and Parking Board, which were approved by City Council on March 24, 2009.
For More Information
Residents & Business Owners
In addition to using this site, residents and business owners are encouraged to visit the Motorcoach Task Force Page and to sign up for the Alexandria eNews subscription service’s Motorcoach Group to receive regular e-mail and text message updates about motorcoach management, meetings, and police reports.
Motorcoach Owners & Operators
Please use the following resources to learn more about motorcoach activities in the City of Alexandria:
Media Coverage
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