TRAFFIC CAMERAS: Arizona law discourages traffic cameras on state roads

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has signed legislation that makes it more difficult for cities to set up speed and red-light cameras.

Cities must now provide statistical evidence that the cameras, if installed on state roads, will increase safety in the area.  Cameras already installed on these routes can stay in place for the rest of their current permits, but once these permits expire, cities must reapply. If cities don’t have sufficient evidence that the cameras have decreased speeding and accidents, they must be removed.

The new law reflects the governor’s disapproval of photo radar as a means of generating revenue to solve budget woes.

In 2009, former Gov. Janet Napolitano, had signed a contract with Redflex Traffic Systems to put 100 speed cameras on state roads. Brewer ended this contract in 2010, and the newest law goes a step further in eliminating what her predecessors had put in place.

The law, however, does not address speed and red-light cameras on local, city roads.