State legislations review on speed cameras and red light cameras

State legislators nationwide continue to review regulations regarding speed cameras and red light cameras. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, over 220 communities use speed cameras to enforce traffic rules, while approximately 340 municipalities have installed red light cameras. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has criticized the focus on revenue-generating devices, arguing that it interferes with safe and smooth traffic flow.

Summary of state legislations

California

Laws allowing the use of speed control cameras have been enacted, excluding highways and freeways. Cities such as Glendale, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco may install cameras, although the National Motorists Association opposes, arguing that the government’s mass data collection doesn’t justify the need for enforcing speed limits.

Iowa

A bill in Iowa seeks to limit the use of speed camera fines. Bill HF2681 would require local governments to obtain permission from the Iowa Department of Transportation to use speed camera devices. Additionally, the use of mobile speed camera units that relocate in communities with fewer than 20,001 inhabitants is prohibited. Cities and towns already using these cameras must justify their use to the State Department of Transportation.

Louisiana

In Louisiana, eight localities including Shreveport and New Orleans use speed cameras, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Additionally, Baton Rouge and New Orleans have red light cameras, with minimum fines of $60. Several bills, such as House Bill 652 and Senate Bill 379, seek to change the use of speed cameras in the state, including repealing laws authorizing their use in certain areas.