Speed Cameras Are Watching Closely In These 27 States
If you're driving for the holidays, watch your speedometer. Cameras are watching in over 300 communities across the United States, and fines can hit $425.
That's especially true in Maryland, where a new tiered fine system took effect October 1. Drive 40 mph over the speed limit and you're paying $425. No cop needed. Just you, the camera, and an expensive ticket in the mail.
Speed cameras that fine you for driving too fast even when police aren't around are everywhere now, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The institute calls them "an important tool" to reduce speeding, crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
Whether you agree probably depends on whether you've gotten a ticket from one lately.
Where the Cameras Are
Hawaii allows speed cameras statewide. Arkansas, Kentucky, and Indiana use them in highway work zones only. Illinois and Pennsylvania allow them in Chicago and Philadelphia plus work zones. San Francisco is the only California city using them.
Twenty-seven states have speed cameras operating somewhere: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington.
Over 300 communities nationwide have cameras watching motorists.
What It'll Cost You
Fines vary by state and how badly you were speeding. Many states don't issue points on licenses since citations go to the registered vehicle owner, who might not be the driver caught speeding.
Maryland's structure:
12-15 mph over: $40
16-19 mph over: $70
20-29 mph over: $120
30-39 mph over: $230
40+ mph over: $425
Go 40 over on a Maryland highway and you're paying over $400 without ever seeing a cop.
Philadelphia:
11-19 mph over: $100
20-29 mph over: $125
30+ mph over: $150
San Francisco:
Fines range from $50 for going 11-15 mph over to $500 for going 100+ mph over. Don't go 100 mph over the speed limit in San Francisco.
Kentucky:
Fines go as high as $500, according to the Louisville Courier Journal.
Do You Get Warnings?
Laws about warning signs vary by state. A 2021 report commissioned by safety organizations recommends states "install prominent warning signs."
Whether your state actually does that is another question. Some post clear warnings about camera zones. Others don't advertise them much.
The ticket-in-the-mail surprise is less fun when you had no idea cameras were watching.
Do They Actually Work?
Safety experts say speed cameras reduce speeding, which makes roads safer. "Numerous studies have shown that cameras reduce speeds and crashes on all types of roads," the insurance institute notes.
Rock Miller, a California traffic engineering expert, believes cameras make a difference, especially for drivers who go faster and face higher fines.
Philadelphia's Roosevelt Boulevard is the city's most dangerous roadway for pedestrians. The city placed cameras at 10 locations in 2020.
Results: Speeding tickets dropped 93%. Crashes with serious injuries and/or fatalities fell 21%. Pedestrian-involved crashes dropped 50%.
By 2023, Philadelphia extended cameras farther on Roosevelt Boulevard. In November, they added cameras along Broad Street.
"There is evidence that even a relatively small reduction in speed can result in a large reduction in fatalities," Miller said. "Even a few miles per hour can make a difference."
The Revenue Question
Speed cameras reduce speeding. They also generate revenue. Critics argue they're more about collecting fines than improving safety.
Supporters point to data showing fewer crashes and injuries. Philadelphia's 50% drop in pedestrian crashes on Roosevelt Boulevard is hard to argue with when you're talking about people's lives.
But when Maryland implements fines up to $425, it's fair to ask whether that's about safety or revenue. Both can be true simultaneously.
What to Do
If you're driving through any of the 27 states with speed cameras, assume they're watching. Check the speed limit. Stay close to it.
Maryland's tiered system means going significantly over gets expensive fast. $40 for 12-15 over is manageable. $425 for 40+ over is not.
Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago, and other cities with camera programs will mail you a ticket. The citation goes to whoever owns the vehicle, so if you're borrowing someone's car, they get the ticket.
Some states require warning signs about camera zones. Some don't. Don't count on advance notice.
The Bottom Line
Over 300 communities across 27 states use speed cameras. Fines range from $40 to $500 depending on location and how fast you were going. Data suggests they work for reducing speeds. They also generate significant fine revenue.
So, if you're traveling by car for the holidays, watch your speed. Cameras are watching in 27 states, and getting caught could cost anywhere from $40 to $425.
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