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Legal
No state law
15
Illegal
9

Red Light Cameras by State 2024

Red Light Cameras by State 2024

Growing up, you probably learn that red means stop, and green means go. That is certainly true when you are behind the wheel of a car, and if you encounter a red stop light, it is important for you to stop. If a cop sees you going through the intersection when the light is red, you are prone to getting a traffic ticket. What happens if there is not a cop present? You may feel like you have gotten away with it, but you might be photographed by a red light camera. This is a traffic enforcement mechanism that photographs a vehicle that has entered the intersection when the light is red. If it catches a picture of your license plate, you could receive a ticket.

How Do Red Light Cameras Work?

A red light camera has been specifically designed to capture vehicles when they enter an intersection when the light is red. If you enter an intersection when the light is yellow, and the light turns red after you have entered the intersection, then it should not take a picture of your license plate, and you should not receive a ticket. Because a red light camera records what happens, you may be able to fight a traffic ticket by asking for footage of the video. If you can prove that the light was not red when you entered the intersection, then you might have a successful defense against a red light ticket.

What States Have Red Light Cameras?

Because traffic accidents are incredibly common in the United States, states are taking measures to enforce traffic laws strictly. Therefore, there are dozens of states across the country that already have red light cameras. So far, there are a total of 23 states that have red light cameras. Alabama, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri New Mexico, New York, and North Carolina allow their use in only specific jurisdictions. Other states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington—allow red light cameras to be used statewide.

Additionally, twelve states have no law that explicitly makes the use of red light cameras illegal. It is possible that red light cameras could expand to the entire country in the near future. It is critical for people to know what these cameras look like, and nobody should go through an intersection if the light is red.

What Is the Penalty for Getting a Red Light Camera Ticket?

If you are caught going through an intersection when the light is red, you could get a traffic ticket. The size of the traffic ticket is going to depend on where you were located, how fast you were going when you entered the intersection, and how many tickets you have received in the past. In addition, it could be considered a moving violation, and that means that your car insurance could go up. Therefore, it is critical for you to be as safe as possible when you are behind the wheel. If you get a red light ticket, you may want to reach out to a traffic attorney who can help you fight it.

Red Light Cameras by State 2024

50 Rows

State
Red Light Camera Legality
Permitted Regions
Ticket Affects Insurance?
Red Light Camera Ticket Penalties
AlaskaNo state law
ArkansasNo state law
IdahoNo state law
IndianaNo state law
KansasNo state law
MassachusettsNo state law
MichiganNo state law
NebraskaNo state law
New JerseyNo state law
North DakotaNo state law
OklahomaNo state law
UtahNo state law
VermontNo state law
WisconsinNo state law
WyomingNo state law
AlabamaLegalSpecified jurisdictions
  • Fine (ranging from minimum of $60 to minimum of $110 depending on the jurisdiction);
  • Generally not listed in criminal or driving record
ArizonaLegalStatewide
  • Maximum $250 fine and 2 points
CaliforniaLegalStatewide
  • $100 base fine and approximately $400 additional fees plus 1 poin
ColoradoLegalStatewide
  • Maximum fine of $75; not reportable to Department of Public Safety
ConnecticutLegalSchool zones, pedestrian safety zones, and DOT approved locations
  • Maximum fine of $50 plus maximum processing fee of $15 for first offense
  • Maximum fine of $75 plus maximum processing fee of $15 for subsequent offense
DelawareLegalStatewide
  • Civil or administrative assessment not to exceed $110
  • Not classified as a criminal offense, shall not be made a part of the driving record
  • DMV shall suspend license for failing to pay assessmen
FloridaLegalStatewide
  • $158 fine
GeorgiaLegalStatewide
  • Civil monetary penalty of not more than $70
  • Not considered a moving traffic violation
  • Not listed in driving record
HawaiiLegalCounties of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Honolulu and City of Honolulu after a 2-year pilot program in the City and County of Honolulu
  • Civil monetary penalty not to exceed $250 for a first offense
  • $300 for a second offense
  • $500 for a third or subsequent offense
IllinoisLegalSpecified jurisdictions
  • Civil penalty not to exceed $100 or the completion of a traffic education program, or both
  • License suspension for failing to pay any fine for multiple offenses
  • Not considered a violation of a traffic regulation and not recorded on driving record
IowaLegalSpecified jurisdictions
  • Fine (ranging from $65 to $100 depending on the jurisdiction); Not listed on driving record
LouisianaLegalSpecified jurisdictions
  • Fine (ranging from $100 to $125 depending on the jurisdiction)
  • Not classified a criminal conviction and not included in driving record
MarylandLegalStatewide
  • Maximum fine of $100
  • Not a moving violation for the purpose of assessing points
  • Not included in the driving record, and shall not be used for insurance purposes
MinnesotaLegalSpecified jurisdictions
  • Warning, first offense
  • Fine $40 with diversion option, second offense
  • Fine $40 for subsequent offenses; not on driver record
MissouriLegalSpecified jurisdictions
  • Fine (generally, $100)
  • no points in certain jurisdictions
NevadaLegalStatewide
  • Misdemeanor offense: up to $1000 in fines and a potential 6 months of jail time, not to mention the incident will show up on a background check and very likely increase your auto insurance premiums.
New MexicoLegalSpecified jurisdictions
  • Fine (ranging from $66 to $100 depending on the jurisdiction)
  • Certain jurisdictions allow vehicle seizure for nonpayment of fine
New YorkLegalSpecified jurisdictions
  • Maximum fine of $50
  • Not classified as a criminal offense, not included in driving record, and not used for insurance purposes
North CarolinaLegalSpecified jurisdictions
  • Fine (ranging from $50 to $100 depending on the jurisdiction)
  • No points and not used for insurance purposes
OhioLegalStatewide
  • Fine which shall not exceed the maximum fine imposed for a substantially equivalent criminal traffic law violation (not more than $150 for a traffic control signal violation, which is a minor misdemeanor)
  • No points and not used for insurance purposes
OregonLegalStatewide
  • Sme as traditional enforcement penalty
  • Class B traffic violation resulting in a maximum $1,000 fine
PennsylvaniaLegalSpecified jurisdictions
  • Maximum fine of $100
  • Not a criminal conviction, not included in the driving record, and shall not used for insurance purposes
Rhode IslandLegalStatewide
  • Fine of $85
  • Not a moving violation nor a criminal conviction and not included in driving record
  • Not used for insurance purposes until there is a final adjudication
TennesseeLegalStatewide
  • $50 fine
  • Not included in driving record and not used for credit rating or insurance purposes
VirginiaLegalStatewide
  • Monetary penalty of not more than $50
  • Not considered a conviction, not included in the driving record, and not used for insurance purposes
WashingtonLegalStatewide
  • Not more than $145, adjusted for inflation every 5 years
  • Not deemed a conviction, not part of driving record and citations processed in same manner as parking infractions
KentuckyIllegal
MaineIllegal
MississippiIllegal
MontanaIllegal
New HampshireIllegal
South CarolinaIllegal
South DakotaIllegal
TexasIllegal
West VirginiaIllegal

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