Speed and Red Light Cameras

Speed and red-light cameras are a type of automated enforcement technology used to detect and deter speeders and red-light runners. Some jurisdictions use similar technology for other traffic violations, such as illegal rail crossings or toll violations.

Many states have enacted legislation either permitting, limiting or prohibiting the use of speed or red-light cameras at the state or local level. Enforcement can be limited to a particular area or community. Penalties usually are more lenient than those used with traditional enforcement. For example, the fine may be lower, points may not be assessed or the citation may not go on the driver's record.

Some localities operate speed and/or red-light cameras even if the state does not specifically permit or prohibit it. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety maintains a list of all communities operating automated enforcement. This list changes and is updated regularly.

Speed Cameras

  • 19 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws that permit the use of speed cameras.
  • 9 states have passed laws that prohibit the use of speed cameras.

Red-Light Cameras

  • 22 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws permitting red-light camera use.
  • 8 states have passed laws that prohibit the use of red-light cameras.

NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on speed and red-light camera laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.

Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.

Last updated in May 2024. Laws last reviewed by State Highway Safety Offices in March 2024.

Short Term Description
Speed and red-light cameras are automated enforcement technologies used to detect and deter speeders and red-light runners. Some jurisdictions use similar technology for other traffic violations, such as illegal rail crossings or toll violations.
Wyoming
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Wyoming
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Wyoming
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Wyoming
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Wisconsin
Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Wisconsin
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Wisconsin
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Wisconsin
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

West Virginia
Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

West Virginia
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

West Virginia
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

West Virginia
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Washington
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

School speed zones, school walk routes, park zones, hospital zones, highway work zones, one camera per 10,000 residents in priority areas such as areas with higher rates or collisions or areas designated as problem racing zones

Washington
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

Washington
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide; at intersections of two arterials

Washington
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Virginia
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Virginia
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

School crossing zones and highway work zones

Virginia
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

Virginia
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide; no more than one intersection for every 10,000 residents in each community, except for communities under the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, which are allowed systems at not more than 10 intersections or no more than one intersection for every 10,000 residents, whichever is greater

Virgin Islands
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Virgin Islands
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Virgin Islands
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Virgin Islands
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Vermont
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Vermont
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Vermont
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Vermont
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Utah
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Utah
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Utah
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Utah
Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Texas
Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Texas
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Texas
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Texas
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Tennessee
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Tennessee
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

In school zones; on any S-curve that inhibits a driver's vision through the bend

Tennessee
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

Tennessee
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide

South Dakota
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

South Dakota
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

South Dakota
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

South Dakota
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

South Carolina
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

South Carolina
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

South Carolina
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

South Carolina
Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Rhode Island
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Rhode Island
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

School zones, Monday - Friday, 7am - 6pm, August 15 - June 30

Rhode Island
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Rhode Island
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide

Pennsylvania
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Pennsylvania
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Active work zones when workers are present; in Philadelphia

Pennsylvania
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

Pennsylvania
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions

Oregon
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Oregon
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide (effective January 1, 2023); not on controlled access highways; must be operated by uniformed police officer out of marked police vehicle; only permitted in construction zones when workers are present

Oregon
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Oregon
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide

Oklahoma
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Oklahoma
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Oklahoma
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Oklahoma
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Ohio
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Ohio
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide; not permitted on interstates when operated by townships

Ohio
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

Ohio
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide

North Dakota
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

North Dakota
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

North Dakota
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

North Dakota
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

North Carolina
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

North Carolina
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

North Carolina
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

North Carolina
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions

New York
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions; not permitted on controlled access highway exit ramp or within 300 feet following

New York
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

New York
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions

New York
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

New Jersey
Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

New Jersey
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

New Jersey
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

New Jersey
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

New Hampshire
Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

New Hampshire
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

New Hampshire
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

New Hampshire
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Nevada
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Nevada
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Speed camera equipment must be held in hand or installed temporarily within law enforcement vehicle or facility

Nevada
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Nevada
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Speed camera equipment must be held in hand or installed temporarily within law enforcement vehicle or facility

Nebraska
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Nebraska
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Nebraska
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Nebraska
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Montana
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Montana
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Montana
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Montana
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Missouri
Speed Cameras: State Law

No state law

Missouri
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Permitted by city ordinance

Missouri
Red Light Cameras: State Law

No state law

Missouri
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Permitted by city ordinance

New Mexico
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

New Mexico
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions; mobile enforcement vans not permitted on state and federal roadways

New Mexico
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

New Mexico
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions; not permitted on state and federal roadways

Mississippi
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Mississippi
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Mississippi
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Mississippi
Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Minnesota
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Minnesota
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Minnesota
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Minnesota
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Michigan
Speed Cameras: State Law

None (State law requires law enforcement to witness violations)

Michigan
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Michigan
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None (State law requires law enforcement to witness violations)

Michigan
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Massachusetts
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Massachusetts
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Massachusetts
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Massachusetts
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Maryland
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

School zones (only during certain hours); Montgomery County residential districts; areas in or near institutes of higher education in Prince George's County; construction zones on expressways or controlled access highways with a speed limit 45 mph or greater

Maryland
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Maryland
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide

Maryland
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

Maine
Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Maine
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Maine
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Maine
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Louisiana
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

Louisiana
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions; not permitted on interstate highways except operated by state in construction zones when workers are present

Louisiana
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Louisiana
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions

Kentucky
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Kentucky
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Kentucky
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Kentucky
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Kansas
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Kansas
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Kansas
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Kansas
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Iowa
Speed Cameras: State Law

No state law

Iowa
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Permitted by city ordinance

Iowa
Red Light Cameras: State Law

No state law

Iowa
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Permitted by city ordinance

Indiana
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by State Law (effective July 1, 2023)

Indiana
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Highway work zones (effective July 1, 2023)

Indiana
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Indiana
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Illinois
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

Illinois
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

In construction or maintenance zones (only when workers are present); in safety zones - within 1/8th of a mile of a school or park district used for recreational purposes in municipalities with a population of 1 million or more inhabitants (only within certain hours)

Illinois
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Illinois
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions

Idaho
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Idaho
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Idaho
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Idaho
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Hawaii
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Hawaii
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Hawaii
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Yes, by state law and county ordinance

Hawaii
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Counties of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Honolulu and City of Honolulu after a 2-year pilot program in the City and County of Honolulu

Georgia
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Georgia
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

School zones, one hour before and after instruction time

Georgia
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Georgia
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

School zones, one hour before and after instruction time

Florida
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Florida
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Florida
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Florida
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide

District of Columbia
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Citywide

District of Columbia
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by district law

District of Columbia
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Citywide

District of Columbia
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by district law

Delaware
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Delaware
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Delaware
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Delaware
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide

Connecticut
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Connecticut
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Work Zones, school zones, pedestrian safety zones and other locally established areas (effective 10/1/23)

Connecticut
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Connecticut
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

School zones, pedestrian safety zones and other locally established areas (effective 10/1/23)

Colorado
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

Colorado
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

School zones, residential neighborhoods, construction zones (only when construction is occurring), and streets that border a municipal park; police officer or government employee must be present at time of violation

Colorado
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Colorado
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide

California
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

In six specified jurisdictions in a pilot program until 2032

California
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

California
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide

California
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Arkansas
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Arkansas
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

School zones, rail crossings and work zones, though a police officer must issue citation at time of violation

Arkansas
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Arkansas
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Alaska
Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Alaska
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Alaska
Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

Alaska
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Alabama
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

Alabama
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions

Alabama
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Alabama
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions

Arizona
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide; not permitted on state highways; not permitted within 600 feet of posted speed limit change except near school crossing

Arizona
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Arizona
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide; not permitted on state highways; not permitted within 600 feet of posted speed limit change except near school crossing

Arizona
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law
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