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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide; at intersections of two arterials

Washington

Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

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

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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Utah

Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Utah

Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Utah

Red Light Cameras: State Law

None

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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

South Carolina

Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

South Carolina

Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

South Carolina

Red Light 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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Oklahoma

Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Oklahoma

Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Oklahoma

Red Light 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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions

New York

Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

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 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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Nebraska

Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Nebraska

Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Nebraska

Red Light 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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Mississippi

Speed Cameras: State Law

Prohibited

Mississippi

Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Mississippi

Red Light 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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide

Maryland

Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

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

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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Kansas

Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Kansas

Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Kansas

Red Light 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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Idaho

Speed Cameras: State Law

None

Idaho

Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

n/a

Idaho

Red Light 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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Citywide

District of Columbia

Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by district law

District of Columbia

Speed Cameras: Where Permitted

Citywide

District of Columbia

Red Light 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

Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Statewide

California

Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

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

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

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

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