In 2009, an opinion poll showed 63% of Arizonans favored speed cameras. In 2010, a legislative hearing considering removing speed cams from Arizona highways was mobbed with citizens who wanted them gone. Similar head-to-head feelings are expressed about red light cameras. With such polarity, prepare to have some feelings fired up. How so? Nine states are considering—or will make—changes to traffic camera laws. Will you be traveling through any of them?
Speed cameras are already operating in more than 220 communities across the U.S. Their purpose is to snag drivers who disobey traffic rules, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Nearly 340 municipalities use red-light cameras to nail light-runners. Here’s the breakdown of states that could be changing, or have changed, traffic ticket camera laws.
California
A year ago, a new law authorized the use of speed cameras to enforce speed limits. California already allows the use of red-light cameras. The red-light photo-ticketer is used in more than 30 areas around the state. Until now, speed cameras have not been allowed. But that could change.
A one-year-old law authorizes a five-year pilot program to use speed enforcement cameras in areas described as “safety corridors.” These are defined as those with a high number of crashes, those where street-racing events are common, and those in school zones. Freeways and expressways are not included.
The cities of Glendale, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, and San Jose, as well as the city and county of San Francisco, are allowed to put up speed-cams. They can operate up to 125 cameras. The number of cameras allowed is based on population.
Other bills could have an effect if passed and signed off by the governor.
A new bill would add the city of Malibu to the list. AB2809 would permit the devices to be posed along the Pacific Coast Highway in the city. A bill with this intent, SB1297 is moving its way through the Senate.
A separate bill, AB2089, would add authorization for speed cameras in highway work zones.
Iowa
An Iowa bill halfway through the state house would slow down speed-cams, limiting the use of speed-ticket cameras. Iowa law doesn’t address the use of speed or red-light cameras. The state’s Legislative Services Agency reports at least 24 cities and towns operate automated or remote systems for traffic-law enforcement.
Iowa’s House voted 85-12 to move a bill forward that would require local governments to get permission from the Iowa Department of Transportation to use speed-ticketing devices. Tickets could be issued for exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 10 mph. Local governments with populations below 20,001 would be forbidden from using mobile ticket cameras that change locations, but still could issue warnings.
If HF2681 were to pass, ticket revenue would have to be used for transportation infrastructure improvements, local law enforcement, or fire departments.
Louisiana
Eight Louisiana locales—including Shreveport and New Orleans—use speed cameras. This, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. You’ll find red-light cameras in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Minimum fines are set at $60.
Senate Bill 21 would eliminate authorization for red-light and speed-ticket cameras statewide. The Senate voted unanimously on April 9 to send another bill over to the House. That bill would kill a two-year-old law that authorizes the use of enforcement cameras along the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. In 2022, a law went into effect authorizing the use of enforcement cameras to track vehicle travel times. Those speed cameras still aren’t in place.
SB379 would repeal camera authorization. It would also kill double fines for speeding.
Maryland
Last week a new law was approved by the governor to hammer down on speeding in work zones. Maryland law limits use of speed cameras to state highway work zones and in school zones. A police officer is required to be present to man a camera. Break the law, get a $40 ticket. Part of that money goes back to the camera vendor. Still, no points are added to offenders’ licenses and insurance companies are not notified. But the new law changes that.
The new law doubles the fine for speeding in work zones captured on camera from $40 to $80. And come January 1, 2025, the fine amount will increase to $250. Another change? There won’t be a requirement that a law enforcement officer be on-site to allow the speed-cams to shoot you.
More than one camera will be allowed in each work zone. Only one citation per vehicle will be allowed for a speeding violation. Additionally, local governments will be allowed to use work-zone speed cameras on roadways that are not an expressway or a controlled-access highway.
Michigan
There are no communities in the state that use red-light or speed cameras. The law requires law enforcement to witness violations. Again, new traffic camera laws could change that.
The Senate Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure Committee has voted to advance House-approved legislation that would authorize automated speed enforcement in work zones. If passed and signed, the bills would permit speed-ticket cameras to enforce vehicle speeds in work zones on a highway or street. HB4132 and HB4133 would give the state police and the Department of Transportation permission to use automated enforcement at sites that don’t have guardrails or other barriers.
Ticket cameras would be allowed in these areas when construction workers are present. Vehicle owners for rigs caught traveling at least 10 mph above the posted speed limit would receive violation notices in the mail. First-time offenders would get a written warning. Repeat offenders with violations within three years would face fines up to $150. Subsequent offenses within the same time frame would result in fines up to $300. A “fair warning” sign would be required a mile before the work zone to tip off drivers to the use of speed-cams.
The law would establish a work-zone-safety fund. It would be handled by the treasury department, coordinating with state police and local law enforcement to increase police presence within work zones, to fund devices, and to make other safety enhancements.
New Jersey
At present, the Garden State doesn’t allow the use of ticket cameras. But earlier this month a bill was introduced intended to limit the effect of red-light and speed cameras. The bill, S3067, would prohibit the Motor Vehicle Commission from providing identifying information for New Jersey licensed drivers to camera enforcement entities in other states.
The bill is modeled after a South Dakota law that prohibits the state from sharing information with other states for the collection of civil fines that result from camera tickets. The bill’s author calls automated enforcement “government-sanctioned theft” with “zero safety benefit.”
Ohio
HB416 would require traffic cameras to be registered with the state. A $100,000 license fee would be charged annually to companies that provide them. It would also mandate the Department of Public Safety to inspect every camera monthly to confirm accuracy. Camera companies would be charged $5,000 monthly per device for the service.
Under the new traffic camera laws, money from the traffic cam wouldn’t change. Local municipalities would continue to collect 60%, and camera companies would get the rest. But an 8% state tax would be added to a company’s revenue.
Vermont
The Senate voted to advance S184 that would permit ticket cameras in highway work zones and in areas identified as having high rates of speeding. State and local officials could get on the bandwagon, being allowed to use the technology to enforce speed limits. The ticket would stick when drivers speed more than 10 mph above the posted limit. A first violation yields a warning. Repeat offenses within one year would result in an $80 fine. Subsequent violations within the same time period would result in $160 fines.
Washington
Washington state law and city ordinances permit the use of speed cameras. Their placement is restricted to school zones, public parks, and hospitals. Ticket cameras also can be installed in other locations of concern.
A 2023 law expanded the use of speed-ticket cameras to highway work zones. Workers must be present for citations to be issued. That rule takes effect in July. But more traffic camera laws are on the way.
The Legislature recently sent the governor a bill to authorize more cities and counties to place speed cameras on city streets and in work zones. HB2384 makes permanent the city of Seattle’s use of cameras to detect restricted-lane violations. Washington Governor Jay Inslee has signed it into law. Come June 6, it goes into effect.
That new law allows any trained or authorized “civilian employee” to review video to determine when an automated-safety-camera violation has occurred. Sworn police officers were the only ones who could make such calls previously, but this has changed.
##RVT1153b
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Thank you for noting the states considering speed- violation cameras; good to know. Typically, I drive the RV a few miles below the speed limit. It can be daunting to realize that I am sitting on the nose of a 38,000-pound projectile hurtling down the road. A nice side-benefit of driving at such a speed is that almost no one ever hinders my progress. 🙂 Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
Does this mean they can quit hiring cops and let the cameras do the job? Nothing could possibly go wrong with this plan, could it?
Sadly, in parts of California, probably so..☹️
Personally, I see no problem with speed cameras as long as they are not abused by law enforcement. 5-10 mph over the speed limit should not be citeable unless they are in a construction zone or accident or other incident where emergency vehicles have lights flashing, and no forgiveness for first time violations. There are enough warning signs posted before the area.
In those cases the fines should be issued at the same amount as being pulled over by a LEO.
Forgot Pa with the speed cameras. Speed Cameras in construction areas are just a gimmick to extort money from us. They don’t do anything to ensure construction areas are safe for motorists. In Pa state police aren’t pulling over speeder in non construction areas much. Since the new governor took over they are out slightly more, but not enough.
So you think speed cameras in work zones are just there to make money? Easiest way to prevent the fine, is to SLOW DOWN! Most, if not all work area have signs posted stating the cameras use.
Whatever it takes to protect the workers. Too bad people only see a money grab and not the safety behind the camera. Probably keyboard warriors.
Ohio has some traffic cameras already in place. In NE Ohio, one is on a freeway but the other is in a small community with a fairly major road on an 8% grade hill. The cameras are in each direction just as you descend the hill. These are nothing more than a money grab. The small community is of very wealthy residents but no industry/business. They claimed it was for safety reasons, however their own stats show 2 major accidents in the last 20 years. It’s always about government money grab.
A speed limit is a speed limit. In FL drivers routinely drive 20, 30, 40 mph above the posted limit in the passing lane and only rarely cited. I would like to see speed limits enforced . Like what Ohio did re charges to the camera companies. Would like to see Florida do the same.
It’s fairly inconclusive these devices are actually about safety. A lot of studies show rear accidents increase at these intersections (traffic light cameras) because a lot of people slam on their brakes to avoid to try and avoid the ticket. For sure, these are real good revenue generators for local governments. I’m fairly confident that’s the real goal.
I feel speed cams in school zones are needed and would make them much safer, but stop light cameras are not much more than revenue enhancement.
In Pennsylvania, and more specifically Philadelphia, both speed and red light cameras are in use. Notably, in Phila, is Roosevelt Blvd (US1) which is a 6 lane divided highway in both directions (12 lanes total) with red lights (red light cameras too). Speed limits are posted at 40 mph with little or no LEO presence. The red light cameras have decreased accidents according to the insurance institute, at some intersections. But speeding still occurred. On I95, if you go the listed speed limit (55), and 45 in construction zones (45), you get passed by both cars and big rigs. Haven’t heard any information on 95’s cameras, but from experience, speed cameras on 95 and US1 in Philly, don’t work.
I have ZERO issue with speed and red light cameras. I used to travel to Edmonton, Alberta for work and they are everywhere with very little tolerance! It is incredible how nearly every driver on every street and highway follows the speed limit to a few km/hr. I did get a couple of tickets for 7-10 km over (about 4-6 mph), but I sure slowed down after that!
I live near Toronto, Ontario where so many people drive 20-60 km over the limit, it is just crazy. And a yellow light only means speed up and go through a red. My wife got a $350 red light ticket about five years ago, and won’t think about going through one now! Is this not safer?
I got 2 of these speeding tickets on Memorial Drive in Calgary many years ago. I beat them both only because camera tickets were a brand new concept and the laws had some glitches but 100% , I slowed down after the second one, (a little).
The third one I got was in a rental car and the rental company simply charged my card when they got the ticket, sent a receipt along a form to fill out if I wanted to go to court (2,000 miles away) and dispute it. I figured I had my 2 victories 30 plus years earlier and accepted the consequence of my own foot.
No.
I really don’t have any issues against them. Just obey the speed limit and stop for the red lights and nobody will get a ticket. After a while those programs will go bankrupt.
In the small town I spend half the year in I complained on FB about being passed on a two lane street when I was doing the speed limit and I was told by many residents that the speed limit is just a suggestion. I have a suggestion for them….
Indiana is now using speed cameras in some construction zones.
Since most people are just stupid or ignorant (or both!), I feel they should be implemented in every state and every traffic light. Having traveled to the UK several times in a rented RV, I can tell you first hand that their cameras do a great job at making sure people pay for their idiotic driving habits, including parking violations! Plus, those infractions get immediately reported to insurance companies. $$ is a true motivator for most people. If they can’t police themselves to be responsible, let Big Brother do it for them.