Speed camera and red light camera laws by state: 2026 guide
Which states allow speed and red light cameras, how tickets work and how to check yours
A white envelope arrives with two photos of the back of your car, a date, a time and a fine. You may not remember the moment, or you may not have been driving. Whether that notice is valid, and what you can do next, depends on where the camera sits.
Cameras target two deadly behaviors. In 2024, 11,288 people died in speeding related crashes, 29% of all U.S. traffic deaths [15]. Another 1,119 died in red light running crashes. Half of them were pedestrians, cyclists or people in other vehicles hit by the runner [5].
This guide maps where cameras are allowed or banned, how notices and hearings work, and which safeguards to look for.
What counts as automated enforcement
Automated enforcement uses cameras and sensors to detect a violation, record evidence and send a notice without a traffic stop.
- Speed safety cameras. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) describes fixed units, mobile units in a vehicle or trailer, and point to point systems that measure average speed between cameras [8].
- Red light cameras. These record vehicles that enter an intersection after the signal turns red. IIHS recommends a grace period of up to half a second [5].
- Newer types. IIHS notes stop sign cameras coming to some Maryland school zones (a pilot from July 1, 2026) and to Virginia (from July 1, 2027) [2]. Stop arm cameras are covered in our school bus and school zone guide. None are in the counts below.
FHWA counts speed safety cameras as a proven safety countermeasure. Its 2023 Speed Safety Camera Program Planning and Operations Guide updated 2008 federal guidelines [8, 9].
Where cameras are allowed in 2026
The two national trackers disagree. GHSA’s summary, with laws reviewed in June 2025, counts 19 states and DC that permit speed cameras and 10 that prohibit them. It counts 22 states and DC that permit red light cameras and 9 that prohibit them [1].
Our IIHS count runs higher, mainly because that table is 16 months newer. IIHS also counts local ordinance programs, which GHSA lists under no state law. The two classify some limited programs differently [1, 2]. For example, GHSA listed Utah as banning speed cameras and Florida as having no speed camera law. IIHS now lists both with school zone cameras [1, 2].
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Where states stand, by Drive With Care’s grouping of the IIHS table (October 2026) [2]
| Status | Speed cameras | Red light cameras |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed statewide or citywide | Arizona, Colorado, Iowa (mobile units limited), Oregon, DC | Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, DC |
| Allowed in named places or a mix of zones | Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri (local ordinance), New Mexico (local ordinance), New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington | Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa (local ordinance), Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri (local ordinance), New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania |
| Allowed mainly in school zones | Arkansas (also rail crossings and work zones), Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee (also S curves), Utah (also 30 mph areas) | None |
| Allowed only in highway work zones | Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Vermont | None |
| Banned by state law | Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin | Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia |
| No state law or local ordinance | Alaska, Kansas, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming | Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
| Totals | 31 states and DC allow; 9 ban; 10 no law | 25 states and DC allow; 9 ban; 16 no law |
“Local ordinance” marks programs that IIHS lists as resting on local ordinances without a state authorizing law.
Some entries need context [2]. South Carolina allows cameras only for violations during an emergency. Nevada has no camera citation law. Arkansas requires an officer to be present.
State authority versus local programs
A city, county or state agency usually runs the cameras, but the legislature decides whether they may. NHTSA’s Countermeasures That Work reports that state courts have consistently upheld automated enforcement. It still strongly recommends specific authorizing laws, because programs without them are more open to court challenges [7].
State laws shape local programs in several ways [2]:
- Who may run them. Ohio allows cameras in cities and villages but not counties or townships. Hawaii allows red light cameras only in counties of 500,000 or more people.
- Where they may go. Arizona bars cameras on state highways. Virginia allows red light cameras at no more than 1 intersection per 10,000 residents, with a separate Northern Virginia cap.
- How many. California caps each authorized city’s speed cameras at 9 to 125, based on population.
- Local rules with no state law. Missouri’s programs rest on city ordinances, as both trackers note [1, 2].
Some states block local programs outright: Texas law bars local authorities from operating red light cameras or issuing citations from their images [13]. Pennsylvania runs its own work zone program through PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike [11].
School zone and work zone programs
By our count, the IIHS table names school zones in the speed camera rules of 16 states [2]. New York City’s program also centers on schools, with up to 750 zones within 1,320 feet of a school [10].
Work zones appear in 18 states’ rules (our count). Colorado and Oregon add work zone conditions to statewide authority [2]. Our work zone guide counted 11 from GHSA’s June 2025 review. The newer, broader IIHS table explains the gap.
Zone programs usually come with conditions [2]:
- Active hours. Florida cameras may run during the school day and in 30 minute windows around breakfast programs and the start or end of classes. Rhode Island’s run on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., August 15 through June.
- Workers present. Illinois, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Virginia ticket in work zones only when workers are present. Kentucky requires a worker and an officer.
- Higher fines. Maryland work zone fines run $60 to $500 by speed and double when workers are present. Illinois sets a $375 minimum in construction zones.
Posted hours or a flashing beacon tell you when the zone is live. For speed limits and fines by state, see our speeding and aggressive driving laws guide.
How a camera ticket usually works
Most programs follow this path, shown here with New York City’s school zone law [10]:
- The camera records images or video, the time, the place and, for speed cameras, the measured speed.
- A person reviews it. Good practice calls for trained staff to confirm each violation, a job State Police handle in Pennsylvania’s work zones [11, 14].
- A notice goes to the registered owner. New York must mail it within 14 business days for in state owners and 45 for out of state owners [10].
- The notice shows the evidence. New York’s must include at least two time stamped images of the rear of the car and instructions for contesting [10]. Chicago lets owners view red light video online [12].
- You choose a path. Pay, contest or, where allowed, transfer the notice, as when a leasing company names its customer [10].
- A hearing officer decides. New York City’s Parking Violations Bureau hears these cases. Pennsylvania offers an informal hearing and then an appeal to district court [10, 11].
- Deadlines carry weight. In New York, missing the deadline counts as admitting liability and can bring a default judgment, plus up to $25 more [10]. Illinois can suspend a license over unpaid fines for multiple offenses [2].
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Five programs, five sets of rules
| Program | Where and when | Trigger | Penalty | Notable rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City school zones [10] | Up to 750 zones near schools while school speed limits apply | More than 10 mph over | Up to $50 | Not a conviction; off the driving record; not used for insurance |
| Pennsylvania work zones [11] | Active work zones with workers present | 11 mph or more over | Warning, then $75, then $150 | 15 days must pass between a warning and the next notice |
| Maryland [2] | Named localities, school zones (set hours), safety corridors, highway work zones | Work zones: 12 mph or more over | $40 to $425 by speed; work zones $60 to $500 | No points; not on the driving record |
| Chicago, Illinois [2, 12] | Near schools 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on school days; near parks when open | 6 mph or more over | $35 for 6 to 10 mph over; $100 for 11 or more | Warnings only for a new camera’s first 30 days |
| Texas [2, 13] | Red light and speed cameras banned; red light ban took effect June 2, 2019 | None | None | Contracts signed before the ban could continue |
Owner versus driver responsibility
NHTSA describes two legal models [7]. Under owner liability, the registered owner is presumed responsible, much like a parking ticket. Under driver liability, the program must identify the driver, which may require a photo of the driver’s face and raises privacy concerns. Driver liability states tend to set higher penalties and may add license points [7].
Many states use the owner model with civil penalties. New York’s school zone violations are not convictions, stay off the driving record and cannot be used for insurance [10]. Some owner liability states let owners name the actual driver [7]. In New York, a car or plate reported stolen before the violation is a defense [10].
Due process basics: what fair programs build in
Courts have largely upheld camera programs [7], but fairness lives in details like these:
- Clear authority and an end date. New York’s school zone law is set to expire on July 1, 2030 [10].
- Warning signs. New York requires “photo enforced” signs below speed limit signs. Pennsylvania requires two advance warning signs in work zones [10, 11]. From July 1, 2027, Georgia school zone signs must flash and show your speed when cameras are on [2].
- Warning periods. Chicago issues only warnings for a new camera’s first 30 days. A first violation brings a warning [12]. Pennsylvania warns on a first work zone violation [11].
- Reasonable thresholds. New York tickets above 10 mph over, Pennsylvania at 11 mph over and Maryland work zones at 12 mph over [2, 10, 11].
- Proven accuracy. Pennsylvania tests its equipment daily and calibrates it yearly. State Police run field speed tests [11]. A 2021 checklist from AAA, GHSA, IIHS and other safety groups calls for monthly calibration checks [14].
- Safety over revenue. Pennsylvania sends program revenue to safety work [11]. The checklist says money beyond program costs should fund transportation safety. It also urges payment plans for low income drivers [14].
Do cameras work? What the evidence shows
Red light cameras. An IIHS study of large U.S. cities found cameras cut the fatal red light running crash rate by 21% and the fatal crash rate at signalized intersections by 14% [5]. In 14 cities that shut programs off from 2010 to 2014, the fatal red light running crash rate ran 30% higher than expected [5]. After Houston turned off its cameras in 2011, right angle red light crashes at former camera sites rose 23% [5].
Speed cameras. NHTSA rates them 5 stars, its top rating [7]. In Montgomery County, Maryland, IIHS found that about 7½ years in, cameras were tied to 10% lower average speeds. Vehicles were 62% less likely to be going more than 10 mph over [6]. Crashes on camera eligible roads were 19% less likely to involve a fatal or incapacitating injury [6]. In New York City school zones, tickets fell 75% by the end of 2021. Crashes during camera hours fell 14% through March 2022 [6].
Where programs stand. IIHS reports that speed programs grew from 4 communities in 1995 to 379 in October 2026. Red light programs have shrunk since 2012, to 358 [3 to 6].
Trust is the weak link. In a 2013 survey NHTSA cites, 70% of drivers agreed cameras are used to raise revenue. A smaller share, 55%, agreed they prevent crashes [7].
Questions to ask about a camera program in your town
How to verify current local implementation in 5 minutes
- Minute 1: Get oriented. Find your state in the IIHS camera laws table and GHSA summary. Note each date.
- Minute 2: Read the statute. On your legislature’s website, check where cameras are allowed and any end date.
- Minute 3: Find the program page. Check your city or county site for camera locations or a map. The IIHS speed and red light community lists show whether a program exists.
- Minute 4: Read the signs on your routes. Look for “photo enforced” plates, school zone hours, flashing beacons and work zone camera signs.
- Minute 5: Learn the notice process. Note who hears disputes, how to view evidence and the deadline. Save the links and the date you checked.
Frequently asked questions
Are speed cameras legal in my state?
By our count of the IIHS table, 31 states and DC allow them in some form, 9 ban them and 10 have no law. Many limit them to school or work zones [2].
Do camera tickets go on your driving record?
Usually not. In most states that allow cameras, the IIHS table describes civil penalties that stay off the driving record. Arizona and California red light tickets are exceptions [2].
What if someone else was driving my car?
It depends on whether your state uses owner or driver liability [7]. Some owner liability states let you name the driver or transfer the notice to a lessee [7, 10]. The notice explains any option and its deadline.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Treat every camera zone as if an officer were standing there: slow down before the sign and stop fully before the line. If a notice arrives, note the deadline first, view the evidence, then use the official process to pay or contest.
Related articles
- State traffic safety laws: how to look up and verify your state’s rules
- Speeding and aggressive driving laws by state: 2026 guide to the rules
- Speeding and speed management: why a few mph matter so much
- Work zone and move over safety: protect road crews, responders and you
- School bus and school zone safety: when to stop and how to protect kids
Sources and further reading
- 1Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). Speed and Red Light Cameras (state law summary and table). Issue overview updated October 2025; laws last reviewed by State Highway Safety Offices June 2025. ghsa.org/state-laws-issues/speed-red-light-cameras
- 2Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Safety camera laws (red light and speed camera state table, with penalties and footnotes). October 2026. iihs.org/research-areas/red-light-running/safety-camera-laws
- 3IIHS. Speed camera communities. October 2026. iihs.org/research-areas/speed/speed-camera-communities
- 4IIHS. Red light camera communities. October 2026. iihs.org/research-areas/red-light-running/red-light-camera-communities
- 5IIHS. Red light running (research area overview). Updated July 2026. iihs.org/research-areas/red-light-running
- 6IIHS. Speed (research area overview). Updated July 2026. iihs.org/research-areas/speed
- 7National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Countermeasures That Work: Speed Safety Camera Enforcement. No date on page; accessed October 2026. nhtsa.gov/book/countermeasures-that-work/…/enforcement/speed
- 8Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Speed Safety Cameras, Proven Safety Countermeasures. FHWA-SA-21-070. Accessed October 2026. highways.dot.gov/…/speed-safety-cameras
- 9FHWA. Speed Safety Camera Program Planning and Operations Guide (overview page). 2023 update of the 2008 USDOT guidelines. Accessed October 2026. highways.dot.gov/…/speed-safety-camera-program-planning-and-operations-guide
- 10New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180-B (owner liability for school speed zone violations in New York City). Last modified June 19, 2026. nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1180-B
- 11FHWA. Case Study of Pennsylvania’s Work Zone Speed Safety Camera Program. FHWA-HOP-24-071. Posted January 17, 2025. ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop24071/fhwahop24071.pdf
- 12City of Chicago. Children’s Safety Zone Program and Automated Speed Enforcement (Department of Transportation) and Parking and Red Light Citation Administration (Department of Finance). No dates on pages; accessed October 2026. chicago.gov/…/children_s_safetyzoneporgramautomaticspeedenforcement; chicago.gov/…/parking_and_redlightcitationadministration
- 13Texas Legislature. Transportation Code, Chapter 707: Photographic Traffic Signal Enforcement System (Sections 707.020 to 707.021, added by H.B. 1631, effective June 2, 2019). Accessed October 2026. statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.707.htm
- 14AAA, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, GHSA, IIHS-HLDI and National Safety Council. Automated Enforcement Program Checklist. May 2021. iihs.org/…/AE-checklist-May-2021.pdf
- 15NHTSA. Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024. Traffic Safety Facts, DOT HS 813 791. April 2026. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813791
This article reflects the priorities of transportation law and automated enforcement policy. It is general education, not legal advice for any individual, ticket or case. Laws, programs and data change, so verify with official state and local sources. Reviewed October 2026.
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