LegisBrief A QUICK LOOK INTO IMPORTANT ISSUES OF THE DAY

JULY 2020 | VOL. 28, NO. 26

Did You Know? • Speed cameras first started flashing in in 1987 and the first red-light cameras went live in City in 1992. • Communities in 16 states and the District of Columbia Enforcing Laws with use speed cameras and communities in Red-Light and Speed Cameras 22 states and D.C. use red-light cameras.

BY JONATHON BATES AND SHELLY OREN • According to the Insurance Institute for Automated enforcement with red-light cameras picturemonitor before the green, the vehicle yellow entersand red the phases intersection of traffic Highway Safety, in and speed cameras allow state and local govern- lights. After the light turns red, the camera takes a 2018, more than 9,000 people were killed in ments and law enforcement agencies to remotely Both photos must show the signal in the red phase and again when the vehicle is in the intersection. speed-related crashes Even though such tools usually decrease serious and 846 people were capture images of drivers violating traffic laws. - in order to issue a citation. Speed cameras use killed in crashes that involved red light radar, laser or detectors embedded in the road to running. governmentstraffic crashes, to they use areautomated not always enforcement without contro to measure a vehicle’s speed. If a vehicle is traveling versy. State responses range from authorizing local faster than the posted , the camera will record its speed and license plate, along with the limiting or banning it altogether. - date, time and location. A citation will be issued— Red-light cameras link to traffic signals and either to the registered owner or the driver, de pending on the enabling legislation—if the driver forcement programs in Honolulu, Maui, Kauai and exceeded the speed limit, typically by more than Hawaii counties. Maryland (HB 187) increased the Additional 10 or 11 mph, according to Insurance Institute for number of authorized speed monitoring systems evaluating the effectiveness of automated Resources Highway Safety (IIHS). whichfor a certain allowed road the in county Prince to George’s install one County. speed The enforcement generally show a positive effect on • 2018 Automated Studies new law expanded on 2018 legislation (HB 175), found that red-light Traffic System, cameras reduced the fatal crash rate in large cities camera at a specific intersection. National Highway traffic safety. An IIHS study Traffic Safety In New York, two bills were approved in 2019. Administration foundby 21% that and the the likelihood rate of fatal of acrashes driver exceedingat signalized the One law (AB 951) authorized a speed camera speedintersections limit by in more general than by 10 14%. mph A on 2016 roads IIHS with study demonstration program in school zones in the city • Automated Red- - of Buffalo. Drivers traveling over 10 mph above Light Enforcement, Centers for Disease istration of automated enforcement programs can the posted speed limit will be fined. The fines are Control and cameras decreased by 62%. However, the admin capped at $50 for each violation. Additionally, the - Prevention community opposition is that such programs are other new law (AB 6449) expanded the speed was cause concerns. One commonly cited reason for- camera program in the city of New York. Specifi • Automated checklist thecally, hours the number in which of cameras authorized could school be operated zones to Enforcement Laws, perceived as revenue-generating tools. A coali increased from 140 to 750. The law also extended Insurance Institute for tion of traffic safety groups developed a transparency and implementation based on safety could only be operated during a school’s active Highway Safety for red-light camera programs that emphasizes between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Previously, cameras

Stateconcerns. Action hours. By doing so, this expansion has made New At least 33 states and the District of Columbia York City’s automated enforcement program the NCSL Contact have laws addressing a variety of issues related to largest in the nation, according to a New York Times articleHB 1631. - Jonathon Bates 303-856-1496 generally establish guide- ( ) prohibited localities from us automated enforcement, including to authorize or ing red-light cameras, an idea lawmakers have prohibit it. State laws cited constitutional issues considered since 2007. In signing the new law, Ben Husch lines for municipalities, such as limiting the use of with cameras as drivers are unable to confront Governor Greg Abbott 202-624-7779 cameras to certain cities or authorizing their use communities with statewide.Recent trends show fewer governments are oper- existing contracts are allowed to continue operat- Missouri their accuser in court. However, ating red-light and speed cameras. In , the Federaling cameras forAction the time being. statestate’s laws Supreme explicitly Court prohibit ruled inautomated 2015 that enforce red-light- and speed cameras were unconstitutional. Other Federal surface transportation programs are ment. , , New Hampshire, South generally governed by the Fixing America’s Surface Carolina, Texas and prohibit both Transportation (FAST) Act. This, $305 billion, red-light cameras and speed cameras. and prohibit red-light cameras, and five-year bill was enacted in 2015 and expires and do not allow speed on Oct. 1, 2020. The legislation prohibits states cameras.Cameras are used in in from using federal funds from the Highway Safety Improvement Program and the Highway Safety highway work zones Grant Program to purchase, operate or maintain Illinois, Maryland, Oregon and Pennsylvania. 172 withautomated automated traffic enforcement enforcement systems cameras, are except required automatedPennsylvania speed enacted enforcement legislation cameras in 2018 in ( SBhighway for those located in school zones. Secondly, states ) that established a five-year pilot program for began in March 2020 Drivers be found here going 11 mph or more over the posted speed limit enforcementto conduct a biennial systems survey—2020 in the state; data surveys to mea can- work zones, which . . It must include a list of automated a comparison of their systems to Department of in work zones when highway workers are present sure transparency, accountabilityautomated and safety; red-light- and will be given a after their first offense, running and speed enforcement programs - fined $75 after their second offense and $150 after Transportation guidelines on by their third offense. - . How In 2019, at least four states—Hawaii, Maryland, Committeeever, the recently would introduced relax some INVEST of these Act require- NewAB 663 York and Texas—enacted five pieces of legis- the House Transportation and Infrastructure teelation to providerelated torecommendations automated enforcement. for automated Hawaii en - ( ) established a red-light running commit ments, though it is unclear if the provisions will be enacted by Congress.

National Conference of State Legislatures | Tim Storey, Executive Director 7700 East First Place, , Colorado 80230, 303-364-7700 | 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 515, Washington, D.C. 20001, 202-624-5400 www.ncsl.org | The information contained in this LegisBrief does not necessarily reflect NCSL policy. | Copyright © 2020