The state of Texas in 2019 added itself to the list of states that ban the use of photo enforcement, though a few cities are allowed to continue using the devices until their contracts expire. A decade earlier, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer (D) signed a red light cameras prohibition into law, adding to the growing list of states that prohibit photo enforcement. As of May 2019, eighteen states and thirty-six cities prohibited this form of ticketing. The following list includes links to the full text of each statute or legal decision prohibiting the use of photo radar or red light cameras.

In some cases, the form of the prohibition is indirect. In Arkansas, for example, state law authorizes police to use a photo radar gun if the officer personally delivers the ticket at the time of the violation. This does no more than allow a photograph to be used in conjunction with a traditional traffic stop and serves as an unconditional ban on automated enforcement. In Utah, the legislature has placed so many restrictions on the use of photo radar -- specifically, banning outsourcing of the ticketing process to private, for-profit companies -- that no city uses speed cameras. This serves as an "effective ban" on photo enforcement.

Cameras have also been banned at a local level by referendum (view results in list format). Photo enforcement has been defeated in 39 of 43 election contests nationwide.

View List:

Article Excerpt:

State	Source	Year
Alaska	Appeals court, Anchorage referendum	1997
Arkansas	ARS 27-52-110	2005
Indiana	Attorney General Ruling	2008
Maine	View Law. MRSA 2117	2009
Michigan	Attorney General Ruling	2007
Minnesota	Supreme Court	2007
Mississippi	View law	2009
Montana	View law. MCA 61-8-206	2009
Nebraska	Judge Patricia A. Lamberty struck down camera ordinance	1999
Nevada	NRS 484.910	1999
New Hampshire	RSA 236.130	2006
New Jersey	NJS 39:4-103.1	1992
South Carolina	View law. SCC 56-5-70	2010
South Dakota	View law. SDC 32-28-17 through 22	2014
Texas	View law * has grandfather clause	2019
Utah	UCA 41-6a-608	1996
West Virginia	View law. 17C-6-7a.	2006
Wisconsin	RSA 349.02	1995

Full text of laws:

Arkansas


27-52-110. Automated enforcement device operated by a county government or a department of state government operating outside a municipality.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) "Automated enforcement device" means a system operated by a county government or a department of state government that is operating outside of a municipality that:

(A) Uses a photo-radar device that is capable of detecting a speeding violation; and

(B) Photographs or records an image of the vehicle used in committing the violation, the operator of the vehicle, or the license plate of the vehicle; and

(2) "Municipality" means a city of the first class, a city of the second class, or an incorporated town.

(b) Except as used under subsection (c) of this section, an automated enforcement device shall not be used by a law enforcement agency of a county or a department of state government that is operating outside of a municipality to detect or enforce:

(1) A violation of the traffic laws or regulations of the State of Arkansas; or

(2) An ordinance of the municipality.

(c) (1) A county government or a department of state that is operating outside of a municipality may use an automated enforcement device to detect and enforce a violation of traffic laws or ordinances:

(A) In a school zone; or
(B) At a railroad crossing.

(2) If a county or a department of state government that is operating outside of a municipality uses an automated enforcement device, then a certified law enforcement officer must:
(A) Be present with the automated enforcement device; and
(B) Issue the citation to the violator at the time and place of the violation.

(d) This section shall not prevent the Arkansas Highway Police Division of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department from using automated enforcement devices to enforce state or federal motor carrier laws.

History. Acts 2005, No. 1451, Section 1.

Nevada

NRS 484.910 Use by governmental entity or agent of photographic, video or digital equipment to gather evidence for issuance of traffic citation. A governmental entity and any agent thereof shall not use photographic, video or digital equipment for gathering evidence to be used for the issuance of a traffic citation for a violation of this chapter unless the equipment is held in the hand or installed temporarily or permanently within a vehicle or facility of a law enforcement agency.


New Hampshire

Highway Video Surveillance

Section 236:130

236:130 Highway Surveillance Prohibited. –

I. In this subdivision, "surveillance" means the act of determining the ownership of a motor vehicle or the identity of a motor vehicle's occupants on the public ways of the state or its political subdivisions through the use of a camera or other imaging device or any other device, including but not limited to a transponder, cellular telephone, global positioning satellite, or radio frequency identification device, that by itself or in conjunction with other devices or information can be used to determine the ownership of a motor vehicle or the identity of a motor vehicle's occupants.

II. Neither the state of New Hampshire nor its political subdivisions shall engage in surveillance on any public ways of the state or its political subdivisions.

III. The prohibition set forth in paragraph II shall not apply where surveillance:

(a) Is specifically authorized by statute;

(b) Is undertaken on a case-by-case basis in the investigation of a particular violation, misdemeanor, or felony;

(c) Is undertaken to produce images or data that:

(1) Are viewed only at the transportation management center of the department of transportation in connection with a particular incident occurring on a public way; and

(2) Are not recorded;

(d) Is incidental to the monitoring of a building or other structure under the control of the state or a political subdivision of the state;

(e) Is undertaken for purposes of operation of the E-Z Pass system; or

(f) Is undertaken for the security of the following bridges and approach structures: I-95 Piscataqua River Bridge, Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, and the Memorial Bridge, all in Portsmouth.

IV. Nothing in this section shall prevent the creation, transmission, or recording of any images or data which cannot, by enhancement, manipulation, or otherwise, be used for surveillance.

V. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation if a natural person, or guilty of a misdemeanor if any other person.
Source. 2006, 107:1. 2007, 335:2, eff. July 16, 2007.

New Jersey

Editor's note: with the expiration of the five-year red light camera program, New Jersey statutes now only include a direct prohibition on photo ticketing.

39:4-103.1. Photo radar defined, usage prohibited
1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a law enforcement officer or agency shall not use photo radar to enforce the provisions of chapter 4 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

b. As used in this act, "photo radar" means a device used primarily for highway speed limit enforcement substantially consisting of a radar unit linked to a camera , which automatically produces a photograph of a vehicle traveling at a speed in excess of the legal limit.

Utah

41-6a-608. Photo radar -- Restrictions on use.

(1) "Photo radar" means a device used primarily for highway speed limit enforcement substantially consisting of a low power doppler radar unit and camera mounted in or on a vehicle, which automatically produces a photograph of a vehicle traveling in excess of the legal speed limit, with the vehicle's speed, the date, time of day, and location of the violation printed on the photograph.

(2) Photo radar may not be used except:

(a) (i) in school zones; or

(ii) in other areas that have a posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour or less;

(b) when a peace officer is present with the photo radar unit;

(c) when signs are posted on the highway providing notice to a motorist that photo radar may be used;

(d) when use of photo radar by a local highway authority is approved by the local highway authority's governing body; and

(e) when the citation is accompanied by the photograph produced by photo radar.

(3) The restrictions under Subsection (2) on the use of photo radar do not apply when the information gathered is used for highway safety research or to issue warning citations not involving a fine, court appearance, or a person's driving record.

(4) A contract or agreement regarding the purchase, lease, rental, or use of photo radar by the department or by a local highway authority may not specify any condition for issuing a citation.

(5) The department and any local highway authority using photo radar, upon request, shall make the following information available for public inspection during regular office hours:

(a) the terms of any contract regarding the purchase, lease, rental, or use of photo radar;

(b) the total fine revenue generated by using photo radar;

(c) the number of citations issued by the use of photo radar; and

(d) the amount paid to the person providing the photo radar unit.

(6)A moving traffic violation obtained through the use of photo radar is not a reportable violation as defined under Section 53-3-102'>53-3-102, and points may not be assessed against a person for the violation.

Wisconsin

349.02(3)(a)

(a) In this subsection, "photo radar speed detection" means the detection of a vehicle's speed by use of a radar device combined with photographic identification of the vehicle.

349.02(3)(b)

(b) Notwithstanding sub. (1), the state and local authorities may not use photo radar speed detection to determine compliance with any speed restriction imposed by s. 346.57, 346.58, 346.59, 346.595 or 349.11 or a local ordinance in conformity therewith.