Arizona Photo Enforcement:  What You Need to Know

Arizona’s photo radar enforcement is growing dramatically as the state embarks on a new statewide photo enforcement program on state-operated freeways in order to generate new revenue.  On Oct 22, ten new stationary photo enforcement systems became operational on Valley freeways.  By late 2009, the Arizona Department of Public Safety expects to have 60 stationary cameras operational on Arizona freeways. 

The program also includes 42 additional mobile units, including two SUVs that have been on the freeways since 2007 as part of a pilot program – making the total 102 photo radar cameras on freeways.  Aside from the safety benefits, the program expects to bring in more than $90 million dollars in revenue to the state’s budget.  DPS is targeting the photo radar in areas with higher rates of crashes including construction zones, areas with a high level of merging or freeway transition and areas found to have a high rate of crashes that involved speed as a factor.

Offenders who are ticketed for speeding 10 miles or more above posted limits on state freeways will receive $165 in civil fines, plus tax, but violations will not be reported to the Motor Vehicle Division for points added to their motor vehicle record.  This means that—in most instances—these violations cannot be counted against the driver’s record for insurance rating purposes. 

However, motorists caught speeding 20 miles over the speed limit or in excess of 85 mph anywhere in the state are considered to be committing a criminal offense, and will continue to face stiffer penalties, including up to a $500 fine and/or up to 30 days in jail. Civil fines not paid on time could result in suspended driver licenses.    

To add to the confusion, photo radar tickets received on city streets or streets other than state-run highways may still result in points on the offender’s driver license.   Photo enforcement varies in communities depending on decisions of local government officials, but can include systems that cite red-light runners, speeders on city streets, and speeders in school zones, where any speed over the posted limit can be an offense for safety reasons.

The following list details new and coming stationary photo radar systems on Arizona freeways.  Locations in bold* are currently operational:

PHASE #1 OF STATEWIDE ENFORCEMENT PLAN

FIXED PHOTO RADAR CAMERAS

What to do if you receive a photo enforcement ticket:  Owners of vehicles that are photographed in violation of speed limits on state freeways should get a ticket in the mail within 10 days.  It will include a citation and a photo of the driver and the license plate of the vehicle. 

However, citations from photo enforcement on local roadways will result in tickets which provide the driver with three options:  Pay the fine, defend the citation in court or attend traffic school if qualified. 

In either scenario, if the registered vehicle owner is not the driver when an offense takes place, owners may respond with the identity of the driver who committed the offense.

To read more about photo enforcement or view coming maps on stationary radar locations on state freeways visit http://photoenforcement.azdps.gov. 

Public Affairs Specialist
Office: 602-650-2736
Fax: 602-776-0466
publicrelations@arizona.aaa.com