Phoenix Will Invest Millions to Catch Speeders, But That's Not the Reason Drivers Are Upset | Carscoops

      Authorities report that they lack sufficient police resources to ensure road safety against those who ignore traffic regulations.

      19 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      Phoenix has announced a plan to invest $12 million in installing traffic enforcement cameras.

      The specific locations for these cameras have not yet been determined, but they are expected to be operational before the year concludes.

      The city council overturned its 2020 decision to terminate a similar program.

      Phoenix is set to allocate $12 million for a new traffic enforcement camera initiative intended to enhance road safety and alleviate pressure on its limited police force. This marks the reintroduction of automated enforcement on city roads six years after a previous program was discontinued.

      Although officials emphasize the safety aspect, not everyone is convinced. Some critics suggest that the focus is more on generating revenue rather than protecting motorists.

      More: Florida Drivers Could Now Face Jail Just For Speeding Under New Law

      Importantly, these cameras will not only issue tickets for red light violations but will also capture speeders exceeding the limit by 11 mph or more. Currently, Phoenix has only 28 police officers responsible for patrolling over 5,000 miles of road. The new cameras are expected to alleviate some of the workload on the police.

      At this point, the specific locations for the cameras have yet to be revealed, but they are anticipated to be in place by the end of the year or early 2026 at the latest, as per AZFamily. Officials in Phoenix intend to analyze existing data identifying the most dangerous intersections to determine where to install the cameras. When operational, drivers will initially receive warnings for the first 30 days before actual tickets will begin to be issued.

      This approach is not surprising. This year alone, numerous cities across the United States have implemented similar programs. In many instances, these programs generate substantial revenue for both the municipality and the speed camera operators. Nearby Tempe recently launched its own camera enforcement system, resulting in over 2,200 citations within the first month.

      These citations generated approximately $900,000 in revenue, with only about half going to the city, while the remainder is allocated to the camera company. This explains why Phoenix may be inclined to invest $12 million in taxpayer money to catch violators: the cameras will likely pay for themselves eventually and then begin to generate profit.

      As mentioned in the introduction, Phoenix had previously attempted this initiative, but the city council voted to discontinue red light cameras in 2020. Clearly, they have had a change of perspective and hope to successfully reinstate the program.

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