The legality of photo/video enforcement of traffic laws varies from state to state and between the various jurisdictions inside a state depending on how the laws are written. Below is a list of the laws by state. DISCLAIMER: We are not attorneys and are not responsible for mistakes and/or outdated information. The most current information has been found on IIHS and GSHA.
Not all camera looking devices at intersections are speed or red light cameras. Review the article on cameras before adding them to the map.
State table
Legend
| Not Legal Statewide | NOT LEGAL |
| Legal in Certain Jurisdictions | SEE NOTES BELOW |
| Legal Statewide | LEGAL STATEWIDE |
| No State Law | [field is left blank] |
Notes by state
Alabama
Red light cameras are limited to Montgomery. Speed cameras have no laws regulating them.
Arkansas
Photo radar only in school zones and railroad crossings with an officer present at the time of the infraction. There are no current programs.
Colorado
Speed cameras are restricted to construction zones, school zones, residential areas, and roads adjacent to municipal parks.
Connecticut
As of January 2024, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) released guidance for municipalities that elect to use automated traffic enforcement safety devices, such as red light and speed safety cameras, in their communities. Pursuant to Public Act 23-116, CTDOT was required to develop guidance and approval process.
The Public Act does not provide a mandate for municipalities to install these devices, but rather, they must opt-in with a vote of their legislative body. The Public Act requires the guidance be consistent with the goals of installing traffic enforcement safety devices in locations where they are likely to improve traffic safety and ensuring that the distribution of the devices throughout the municipality is equitable. By releasing the guidance, Connecticut towns and cities are now able to start the process of submitting applications to CTDOT
Georgia
Speed cameras may operate in school zones one hour before through one hour after school hours.
Illinois
- See the list of communities where red light cameras are legal here .
- Mobile speed cameras may be in use in construction zones statewide; these cameras should not be mapped.
- Municipalities with a population of 1,000,000 or more may use speed cameras in safety zones (one-eighth mile from school or park). The City of Chicago is currently the only Illinois community to qualify for speed camera placement.
Indiana
The only cameras allowed under state law are for toll booth areas only for purposes of non payment enforcement.
Iowa
There are no statewide laws for red light or speed cameras in Iowa. All existing cameras operate under programs directed by local ordinance.
Maryland
Speed cameras are authorized in school zones and work zones statewide (and in residential areas in Montgomery County ONLY), but each jurisdiction (county/city) must pass legislation to implement them. The Maryland State Highway Administration has detailed FAQs on Speed Cameras on its website.
Red Light cameras are authorized statewide, but require SHA approval before installation on state roads. The Maryland SHA has details about Red Light cameras on its website.
The Maryland page has details on local camera systems.
Missouri
Speed: No state law, but there may be programs operating under Missouri DOT policy.
Red light: No state law, but there may be programs operating under Missouri DOT policy on state maintained roadways. Local municipalities may be operating under their own policies.
Montana
All localities are prohibited from using red light cameras. However, rail crossings are excepted from this law.
Nebraska
There are no statewide laws regulating red light or speed cameras in Nebraska. However, there are NO cameras present in any municipality and all cameras added to the map should be removed.
Nevada
Nevada state law prohibits use of imaging equipment unless it is hand-held by an officer or installed in a vehicle or facility of a law enforcement agency. Traditional enforcement penalties: $1,000 maximum fine and 4 points. There are no current programs.
New Jersey
The New Jersey Red-Light-Running pilot program ended 12/16/14. Red light cameras are currently prohibited.
New Mexico
No state law specifically authorizing automated enforcement. NMDOT has banned red light cameras and mobile enforcement vans on state and federal roadways. State law requires counties and municipalities using camera enforcement to post a warning sign and a warning beacon.
New York
Red light (NY)
New York State allows red light cameras cameras only in cities with a population over one million or by local ordinance, both requiring a plan approved by the state. These plans designate a specific number of intersections and time period (about 5 years) where the cameras can be erected (these programs can be renewed - expiration dates listed are on the original laws). Red light cameras are signed at or before the intersection that they are monitoring. As as September 2024, red light cameras are permitted only in the following locations (Vehicle & Traffic Law Article 24):
- Cities with a population greater than one million (currently NYC only) are permitted to install and operate red light cameras at up to 150 intersections (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-A, expires 1 Dec 2024).
- Nassau County is permitted to install and operate red light cameras at up to 100 intersections (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-B, expires 1 Dec 2024).
- City of Yonkers is permitted to install and operate red light cameras at up to 25 intersections (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-B*2, expires 1 Dec 2029)
- Current list of red light cameras listed on the City of Yonkers website
- Suffolk County is permitted to install and operate red light cameras at up to 100 intersections (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-B*3, expires 1 Dec 2024)
- City of New Rochelle is permitted to install and operate red light cameras at up to 12 intersections (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-D, expires 1 Dec 2024)
- City of Mount Vernon is permitted to install and operate red light cameras at up to 12 intersections (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-D*2, expires 1 Dec 2024)
- Email from Mount Vernon DPW representative reports that all red light cameras in the city have been removed (August 2021).
- City of Albany is permitted to install and operate red light cameras at up to 20 intersections (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-D*3, expires 1 Dec 2024)
- Current list of red light cameras listed on the City of Albany's website
- City of White Plains is permitted to install and operate red light cameras at up to 12 intersections (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-E, expires 1 Dec 2024)
- Current list of red light cameras listed on the White Plains Public Safety website
- Village of Pelham Manor is permitted to install and operate red light cameras at 1 intersection, where one of the roads is a state highway (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-F, expires 1 Dec 2026)
- Location of the intersection is currently listed on the Village of Pelham Manor website (as of September 2024, this is the intersection of Pelhamdale Ave & Boston Post Rd)
- City of Syracuse is permitted to install and operate red light cameras at up to 36 intersections (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-G, expires 28 Oct 2028)
- County of Westchester is permitted to install and operate red light cameras at up to 50 intersections (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-G*2, expires 1 Dec 2027)
Speed (NY)
Under New York State Law, speed cameras can only be installed 1) in school zones and 2) construction zones on controlled-access highways, and can only be installed under a plan approved by the state. These plans designate a specific number of cameras and time period (about 5 years) where the cameras can be erected (these programs can be renewed - expiration dates listed are on the original laws). Speed cameras are signed at or before their location, with mobile cameras signed while active. As as September 2024, speed cameras are permitted only in the following locations (Vehicle & Traffic Law Article 30):
- City of New York is permitted to install and operate speed cameras within no more than 750 school speed zones (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1180-B, expires 1 Jul 2025).
- 2000 new speed cameras were installed as of May 2020. This includes in all 750 school zones (CBS NY). Cameras can be placed within 1/4 radius of schools and are operational from 6am to 10pm on weekdays (NYC Vision Zero Website).
- City of Buffalo is permitted to install and operate speed cameras within no more than 20 school speed zones (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1180-D, expires 6 Sept 2024).
- By resolution of the city's Common Council, the speed camera enforcement program has ended as of July 2021 (Buffalo News) and cameras were physically removed by September 2021.
- The Commissioner of Transportation is permitted to install and operate speed cameras within no more than 20 highway construction or maintenance work areas located on controlled-access highways (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1180-E, expires 1 Dec 2029).
- These have been implemented as mobile cameras, which are currently not mapped in Waze.
- City of Albany is permitted to install and operate speed cameras within no more than 20 school speed zones (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1180-F, expires 31 Dec 2028).
- As of September 2024, speed cameras have been installed in four school zones (Albany Schools website).
- City of Syracuse is permitted to install and operate speed cameras within no more than 34 school speed zones (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1180-F*2, expires 31 Dec 2028).
- As of September 2024, school zone cameras have not been installed yet.
Bus Lane (NY)
New York State allows the City of New York to install stationary or mobile (i.e., on buses) bus lane cameras, with no less than 50 mobile bus lane photo devices on buses operating on designated bus lanes in such bus rapid transit program below 96th street in the borough of Manhattan (Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-C and Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111-C-1, expiring 1 Jul 2028). These cameras may be used for any "failure of an operator thereof to comply with bus operation-related traffic regulations". Bus lane cameras are not signed.
- As of September 2024, Waze editors currently have an open records request submitted for locations of fixed bus lane cameras.
North Carolina
Red Light Cameras are only legal in Raleigh, Fayetteville, Greenville and Wilimington at this time.
Ohio
Red light and speed cameras are legal statewide in Ohio, but an officer must be present at the time of violation.
Oregon
On July 20, 2015 HB 2621 was signed into law, allowing fixed speed cameras in “urban high crash corridors” within the city limits of Portland.
As of August 2, 2016 the first cameras are being activated and more are planned to be placed in the following months.
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is currently the only city with active red light cameras, however red light cameras are also legal in a few cites and suburban towns. Speed Cameras are permitted to be used in work "construction" zones. See the section on Speed and Red-Light Cameras on the Pennsylvania state page for more information.
Rhode Island
Speed cameras are only allowed in school zones [RIGL § 31-41.3-3(3)] and can only operate during school hours [RIGL § 31-41.3-4(4)]. For more information about mapping speed cameras in RI, see the Speed Camera section on the Rhode Island state page.
Tennessee
Each municipality may decide to use "unmanned traffic enforcement cameras", but they are all governed by state-wide laws contained in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 55, Chapter 8, Sub-Section 198 (TCA § 55-8-198).
- All cameras must be signed (TCA § 55-8-198(c)(2))
- No Cameras allowed on Interstates except for temporary work zones (TCA § 55-8-198(f))
- No cameras allowed near speed limit changes of 10 mph or greater (TCA § 55-8-198(l))
Texas
Although the state allows red light cameras, some communities are not using them. Some cities (Houston) have used them, but then decided to take them down.
Vermont
Speed and red light cameras are NOT legal in the State of Vermont.
Virginia
Speed cameras are authorized in school zones and work zones statewide (Va. Code § 46.2-882.1)
Each town, independent city, and county may elect to install a limited number of red-light cameras pursuant to state law, but not all jurisdictions have done so. (Va. Code § 15.2-968.1)
Washington
Both Red Light and Speed Cameras are legal across the entire state of Washington except in Whatcom County
Wisconsin
The state of Wisconsin prohibits the use of any Speed or Red Light cameras.