Police Radio Encryption in Virginia
Virginia has an encryption rate of 9%. Out of 608 tracked public safety agencies, 13 are fully encrypted, 85 are partially encrypted, and 510 broadcast in the clear.
13
Encrypted
85
Partial
510
Clear
Agencies by Type
221
Public Safety
24 encrypted
31
Dispatch
4 encrypted
27
Government
10 encrypted
21
EMS
2 encrypted
21
Law Enforcement
3 encrypted
7
Federal
3 encrypted
5
Fire
1 encrypted
275
Other
51 encrypted
Encrypted & Partially Encrypted Agencies in Virginia
- Amazon Services LLC (Fairfax County) — Encrypted
- American Airlines (DCA) (Arlington County) — Encrypted
- CVS Distribution Center (Fredericksburg, VA) (Spotsylvania County) — Encrypted
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (Accomack County) — Encrypted
- Chincoteague (Accomack County) — Encrypted
- Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Statewide) — Encrypted
- Department of Fire Programs (Accomack County) — Encrypted
- Halifax County (Halifax County) — Encrypted
- Hillsville, Town of (Carroll County) — Encrypted
- New Kent, County of (New Kent County) — Encrypted
- State Capitol (Richmond City) — Encrypted
- Transcontinental Gas Pipeline (Orange County) — Encrypted
- Virginia Port Authority (Accomack County) — Encrypted
- Albemarle / Charlottesville (P25) (Charlottesville City) — Partial
- Alcoholic Beverage Control (Accomack County) — Partial
- Alexandria (Alexandria City) — Partial
- Alfred Street Baptist Church (Alexandria City) — Partial
- Alleghany County (P25) (Covington City) — Partial
- Amelia County (Amelia County) — Partial
- Arlington County (Falls Church City) — Partial
- Buchanan County (Buchanan County) — Partial
- Businesses (Bath County) — Partial
- Businesses (Hanover County) — Partial
- Businesses (King George County) — Partial
- Businesses (Orange County) — Partial
- Businesses (Rappahannock County) — Partial
- Businesses (Spotsylvania County) — Partial
- Businesses (Richmond City) — Partial
- Cana Rescue Squad Inc (Carroll County) — Partial
- Capital Region Radio System (Richmond City) — Partial
- Caroline County, VA (Caroline County) — Partial
- Carroll, County of (Carroll County) — Partial
- Central Virginia Radio Communications System (Lynchburg City) — Partial
- Chase City, Town of (Mecklenburg County) — Partial
- Chesapeake (Chesapeake City) — Partial
- Clarksville, Town of (Mecklenburg County) — Partial
- County Government (Augusta County) — Partial
- Culpeper, County of (Culpeper County) — Partial
- Defense Logistics Agency (Chesterfield County) — Partial
- Department of Energy (Accomack County) — Partial
- Department of Health (Accomack County) — Partial
- Department of Juvenile Justice (Accomack County) — Partial
- Department of Military Affairs (Accomack County) — Partial
- Eastern Shore of Virginia 911 Commission (Accomack County) — Partial
- Eastern Shore of Virginia Regional Radio System (ESVARRS) (Northampton County) — Partial
- Eastern Virginia Regional Communications (Portsmouth City) — Partial
- Fairfax County (Fairfax City) — Partial
- Fauquier/Culpeper/Rappahannock (Rappahannock County) — Partial
- Fluvanna / Louisa (Louisa County) — Partial
- Fort Barfoot (Nottoway County) — Partial
- Fort Lee (Prince George County) — Partial
- Franklin City (Franklin City) — Partial
- Grundy Airport (Buchanan County) — Partial
- Hampton, VA (Hampton City) — Partial
- Hopewell (Hopewell City) — Partial
- Hospitals (Arlington County) — Partial
- Hotels (Alexandria City) — Partial
- Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) National Capital Region (Fairfax City) — Partial
- Joint National Capital Region (Alexandria City) — Partial
- Justice Integrated Wireless Network (Falls Church City) — Partial
- King George County (King George County) — Partial
- King George, County of (King George County) — Partial
- Lake Anna Airport (7W4) (Louisa County) — Partial
- Louisa County Regional Airport (LKU) (Louisa County) — Partial
- Lunenburg County Airport (W31) (Lunenburg County) — Partial
- Manassas / Manassas Park (Manassas Park City) — Partial
- Marine Corps Base Quantico (Prince William County) — Partial
- Marine Resources Commission (Accomack County) — Partial
- Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (Loudoun County) — Partial
- New Kent / Charles City (New Kent County) — Partial
- Newport News (Newport News City) — Partial
- Newport News, City of (Newport News City) — Partial
- Norfolk, VA (Norfolk City) — Partial
- Northern Virginia Community College (Annandale Campus) (Fairfax County) — Partial
- Old Dominion (Norfolk City) — Partial
- Page, County of (Page County) — Partial
- Pentagon (Arlington County) — Partial
- Prince George County (Prince George County) — Partial
- Prince William County (Prince William County) — Partial
- Property Management (Alexandria City) — Partial
- Pulaski, County of (Pulaski County) — Partial
- Rappahannock County (Rappahannock County) — Partial
- Retail (Albemarle County) — Partial
- Retail (Fredericksburg City) — Partial
- Richmond International Airport (RIC) (Henrico County) — Partial
- Richmond/Henrico/Chesterfield (Richmond City) — Partial
- Roanoke Valley Radio System (RVRS) (Salem City) — Partial
- Rockbridge (Lexington City) — Partial
- Rockingham / Harrisonburg / Page (Harrisonburg City) — Partial
- Sentara Leigh Hospital (Norfolk City) — Partial
- Stafford / Fredericksburg (Fredericksburg City) — Partial
- Surry County (Surry County) — Partial
- Sussex / Sussex Maximum Security Prison (Sussex County) — Partial
- US Army Corps of Engineers (Patrick County) — Partial
- United States Patent and Trademark Office (Alexandria City) — Partial
- Upper Middle Peninsula Regional Communications System (Richmond County) — Partial
- Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service (Virginia Beach City) — Partial
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (P16) (Falls Church City) — Partial
Statewide Encrypted Systems
These agencies operate on statewide radio systems and serve multiple jurisdictions across Virginia.
- Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Virginia Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS)) — Encrypted
County Breakdown
118 counties tracked across Virginia. 54 have at least one encrypted or partially encrypted agency.
View all 118 counties
| County | Agencies | Encrypted | Partial | Clear | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rappahannock County | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 50% |
| Amelia County | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| Northampton County | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| Accomack County | 16 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 47% |
| Carroll County | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 40% |
| Buchanan County | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 33% |
| King George County | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 30% |
| Falls Church City | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 25% |
| New Kent County | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 25% |
| Mecklenburg County | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 25% |
| Bath County | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| Covington City | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| Lexington City | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| Lunenburg County | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| Manassas Park City | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| Nottoway County | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| Patrick County | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| Alexandria City | 13 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 23% |
| Louisa County | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 21% |
| Fredericksburg City | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 20% |
| Halifax County | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 20% |
| Prince George County | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 20% |
| Spotsylvania County | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 17% |
| Fairfax City | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 17% |
| Franklin City | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17% |
| Page County | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17% |
| Pulaski County | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17% |
| Orange County | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 15% |
| Arlington County | 16 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 13% |
| Hopewell City | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13% |
| Richmond County | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13% |
| Surry County | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13% |
| Caroline County | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10% |
| Charlottesville City | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10% |
| Salem City | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10% |
| Sussex County | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10% |
| Richmond City | 26 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 10% |
| Prince William County | 12 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 8% |
| Culpeper County | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8% |
| Lynchburg City | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8% |
| Augusta County | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7% |
| Harrisonburg City | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7% |
| Fairfax County | 22 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 7% |
| Norfolk City | 23 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 7% |
| Hanover County | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6% |
| Newport News City | 17 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 6% |
| Chesapeake City | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6% |
| Hampton City | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6% |
| Henrico County | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6% |
| Portsmouth City | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6% |
| Albemarle County | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5% |
| Chesterfield County | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5% |
| Virginia Beach City | 19 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 3% |
| Loudoun County | 25 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 2% |
| Rockingham County | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0% |
| Stafford County | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0% |
| Fauquier County | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0% |
| Frederick County | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0% |
| Shenandoah County | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0% |
| York County | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0% |
| Madison County | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0% |
| Manassas City | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0% |
| Bedford County | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0% |
| Isle Of Wight County | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0% |
| James City County | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0% |
| Tazewell County | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0% |
| Amherst County | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Danville City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Dinwiddie County | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Fluvanna County | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Middlesex County | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Montgomery County | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Powhatan County | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Suffolk City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Warren County | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Williamsburg City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Winchester City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Gloucester County | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| Northumberland County | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| Roanoke City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| Campbell County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Clarke County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Craig County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Cumberland County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Essex County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Franklin County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Goochland County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Greene County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| King William County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Lancaster County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Petersburg City | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Pittsylvania County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Staunton City | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Washington County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Alleghany County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Bland County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Botetourt County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Bristol City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Charles City County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Colonial Heights City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Dickenson County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Floyd County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Galax City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Grayson County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Greensville County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| King And Queen County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Martinsville City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Mathews County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Nelson County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Norton City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Poquoson City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Prince Edward County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Roanoke County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Rockbridge County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Russell County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Waynesboro City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Westmoreland County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Wise County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
What This Means for Virginia Residents
Virginia has a relatively low encryption rate of 9%. The majority of public safety agencies (510 out of 608) still broadcast in the clear, meaning scanner listeners and journalists retain access to most emergency radio traffic.
Encryption status can change at any time as agencies upgrade equipment or adopt new policies. The RTDNA considers police radio encryption the #1 threat to journalism in America. Use our search tool to check specific cities and counties in Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is police radio encrypted in Virginia?
In Virginia, 13 out of 608 tracked public safety agencies use fully encrypted radio, and 85 use partial encryption. The overall encryption rate is 9%. Use the search tool on the homepage to check specific cities and counties.
Can I listen to police scanners in Virginia?
Yes — 510 agencies in Virginia still broadcast in the clear and can be monitored with a scanner. Check specific agencies using our search tool for detailed channel information.
How often is Virginia data updated?
Data for Virginia is synchronized weekly from RadioReference.com. Encryption status reflects the latest known radio configurations, though agencies can change their setup without notice. Report incorrect data.
Search all 608 agencies in Virginia →
States with Similar Encryption Rates
Maine (9%) · Utah (9%) · South Dakota (9%) · Oklahoma (9%) · Tennessee (9%)
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