Automated enforcement laws

May 2008

Automated enforcement refers to the use of technology to enforce traffic safety laws. Although many jurisdictions that use automated enforcement are in states that have laws authorizing its use, not all states where automated enforcement is in use have such laws, nor are they always necessary. Most automated enforcement programs and laws are for red light violations; however, the use of automated enforcement for speed is increasing, and a few jurisdictions use automated enforcement for other violations such as failing to pay a toll and disobeying a railroad crossing signal. In states that have automated enforcement laws, the laws vary from state to state; some authorize enforcement statewide, whereas others permit use only in specified communities.

Red light camera systems are triggered when a vehicle enters an intersection after the light has been red for a predetermined time. A recent Institute review of red light camera studies around the world, including several by the Institute, concluded that cameras reduce red light violations by 40-50 percent and reduce injury crashes by 25-30 percent. One study found a reduction of 68 percent in front to side impact injury crashes, the kind of crashes most related to red light running. See communities with red light cameras

Automated speed enforcement systems are triggered when a vehicle exceeding the speed limit by a predetermined amount is observed. A 2003 Institute study showed that average speeds declined 14 percent within 6 months of implementing speed cameras in the District of Columbia. Moreover, the proportion of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph declined 82 percent. See communities with speed cameras

A few jurisdictions treat automated enforcement citations just like parking tickets in that the registered owner is liable. Similarly, just as parking tickets do not result in points or are not recorded on a driver’s record, many jurisdictions do not assess points or make a record of automated enforcement citations. Automated enforcement laws associated with moving violations are summarized in the following table.

State Statewide or only specified locations? Violations Citation issued to whom? Who is liable? What image is taken? Traditional enforcement penalties Auto enforcement penalties/record
Alabama no state law
Alaska no state law
Arizona
statewide red light not addressed not addressed not addressed $250 fine/2 points not addressed
statewide speed not addressed not addressed not addressed $250 fine/2 points not addressed
Arkansas use of photo radar by county or state government prohibited except at school zones and railroad crossings; officer must be present and citation must be issued at time of offense
California
statewide red light registered owner driver tag and driver $100 fine/1 point same as for traditional citation
statewide rail crossing registered owner driver tag and driver $100 fine/1 point same as for traditional citation
Colorado Colorado law grants the authority to use automated enforcement to capture any traffic violation
statewide red light registered owner driver tag and driver $39 fine (including surcharge)/4 points $75; no points or record
restricted to school zones, residential areas, or adjacent to a municipal park speed registered owner driver tag and driver $39 fine (including surcharge)/4 points $40 maximum fine ($80 in school zones); no points or record; warning only for first photo radar offense if speed within 10 mph of limit
Connecticut no state law
Delaware
statewide red light registered owner owner 2 or more images of the vehicle $75-$230 fine $50 maximum fine; not a record or conviction offense; not to be used by insurers
District of Columbia DC grants jurisdiction-wide authority to use automated enforcement to capture all moving infractions
entire jurisdiction red light registered owner owner not addressed $75 fine/2 points $75 fine; no points
entire jurisdiction speed registered owner owner not addressed $75 fine/2 points $75 fine; no points
Florida no state law
Georgia
statewide red light registered owner owner license tag, intersection, and light $1,000 maximum fine/3 points $70 maximum fine; not a conviction or record offense; no points; not a moving violation; not to be used by insurers
Hawaii no state law
Idaho no state law
Illinois Illinois has several different automated enforcement laws described below
Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will counties; requires local ordinance red light registered owner owner 2 or more images of vehicle and tag $500 maximum fine/20 points $100; not a moving violation or record offense
statewide only in construction zones or Illinois Toll Authority roads speed registered owner driver tag and driver mandatory $250 fine/20 points $250 fine or 25 hours community service
any county or municipality may use automated enforcement in cooperation with the Illinois DOT and ICC; ordinance required; pilot program is also authorized rail crossing registered owner driver (owner if driver not identified by owner) vehicle, driver, and tag $250 maximum fine/20 points $250 fine or 25 hours community service
local authorities are prohibited from using speed cameras; state may use speed cameras, but only when a law enforcement officer is present and witnesses the event speed not addressed not addressed not addressed not addressed not addressed
Indiana no state law
Iowa no state law
Kansas no state law
Kentucky no state law
Louisiana no state law
Maine no state law
Maryland
statewide red light registered owner owner 2 or more images of rear of vehicle and tag in any medium $500 maximum fine/2 points $100 maximum civil penalty; no points or record; not a moving violation; may not be used by insurers
school zones and residential districts in Montgomery county speed registered owner owner 2 or more images of rear of vehicle and tag in any medium maximum fine $500 in residential district, $1,000 in school zone; points depend on speed $40 maximum fine; no points
Massachusetts no state law
Michigan no state law
Minnesota no state law
Mississippi no state law
Missouri no state law
Montana no state law
Nebraska no state law
Nevada prohibits use of imaging equipment unless it is hand held by an officer, installed in a vehicle or facility of a law enforcement agency; traditional enforcement penalties: $1,000 maximum fine and 4 points
New Hampshire prohibited unless there is specific statutory authorization
New Jersey photo radar is prohibited
local jurisdictions must pass an ordinance and apply to Transportation Commissioner to participate in a pilot program red light registered owner registered owner and driver are jointly liable two or more images of vehicle and tag $85 penalty same as for traditional citation; no points
New Mexico no state law specifically authorizing automated enforcement; state law requires counties and municipalities using camera enforcement to post a warning sign and a warning beacon
New York
cities of at least 1 million people; up to 100 intersections in each city red light owner owner 2 or more images of rear of vehicle and tag in any medium $100 maximum fine/3 points $50 fine; not a record or conviction offense; may not be used by insurers
North Carolina
where specified by statute (Albemarle, Charlotte, Chapel Hill, Cornelius, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, High Point, Huntersville, Lumberton, Matthews, Nags Head, Newton, Pineville, Rocky Mount, Spring Lake, and Wilmington) red light owner owner photo, video, electronic image $100 maximum fine/3 points $75 civil penalty; no points
North Dakota no state law
Ohio no state law
Oklahoma no state law
Oregon
cities statewide red light registered owner or driver, if identifiable registered owner photographs; digital images $300 maximum fine penalty same as for traditional citation
Albany, Beaverton, Bend, Eugene, Medford, Portland, and Tigard (may not be used for more than four hours per day in any one location) speed registered owner or driver, if identifiable registered owner photographs; digital images $300 maximum fine penalty same as for traditional citation
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia red light registered owner owner photographs $25 fine/3 points $100 maximum; not on operating record
Rhode Island
statewide red light registered owner driver 2 or more images of vehicle and tag in any medium $75 fine $75 fine; not a criminal or record offense; not a moving violation; not to be used by insurers until there is a final adjudication of the violation
South Carolina no state law
South Dakota no state law
Tennessee
statewide traffic violation not addressed not addressed not addressed $50 fine/points not reportable; no points may be assessed
Texas a Texas municipality may not use an automated traffic control system to enforce speed
statewide; requires local ordinance red light registered owner owner 2 or more photographic or digital images of tag $200 maximum fine $75; not a criminal or record offense
Utah
statewide only school zones or where limit is 30 mph or less; officer must be present; requires local ordinance speed not addressed not addressed photograph $1,000 maximum fine/50 points not reportable; no points may be assessed
Vermont no state law
Virginia
counties, cities, and towns may operate cameras at no more than 1 intersection for every 10,000 residents; requires local ordinance; the exception is the Washington, DC metropolitan area, it permits up to 10 camera sites or 1 site per 10,000 residents, whichever is greater red light registered owner driver 2 photographs or other recorded images $200 maximum fine/4 points $50 maximum fine; no court costs; not a criminal offense; no points; may not be used by insurers
Washington
cities and counties statewide where two arterial roads intersect red light registered owner registered owner vehicle, license tag $250 maximum fine fine up to the maximum for parking violations in the jurisdiction; no record; no points
school zone speed registered owner registered owner vehicle, license tag $250 maximum fine fine up to the maximum for parking violations in the jurisdiction; no record; no points
cities and counties statewide rail crossing registered owner registered owner vehicle, license tag $250 maximum fine fine up to the maximum for parking violations in the jurisdiction; no record; no points
West Virginia all photo enforcement prohibited
Wisconsin photo radar is prohibited
Wyoming no state law