Speed Cameras by State 2023

Washington, D.C.

Currently, there are more than 5,000 speed cameras in the American database. Getting around the country is a Herculean effort, but made that much easier with the availability of roads, highways, and interstate routes, which make getting around states, cities, and the entire nation a more realistic possibility. Of the entirety of the states and territories, Washington D.C. has the most traffic cameras in the country, and they are collected very densely within the metro area.

Washington is a peculiar case, as New York seems to be the contender for the most speed cameras in the country with the sheer number of the population concentrated within the NYC area. Washington has many traffic cameras and is known for its innovation, as they embed its cameras within certain stop signs instead of traffic lights. This innovation has brought forward a better opportunity for management and policing of the speeding rules. Washington, D.C. also has one of the highest speed limits, making it that much more difficult for residents to be caught.

New York

It is extremely difficult to get a sense of the number of speeding cameras in New York state, as they need to be kept secret in many different circumstances. If residents and travelers knew about the number and location of speed cameras, they would slow down just enough to avoid being caught - which does not resolve the issue altogether. The locations of the camera would need to be changed at many different times and places, which would be extremely costly and difficult to coordinate in the most populous states in the nation.

The New York City Department of Transportation will likely refuse to disclose the number and location of the speeding cameras, including if there are any innovations or tricks that the department has up its sleeve, but many agencies and residents have taken it upon themselves to try and figure out where the cameras will be beforehand and to report these to their network to save people from having to spend money on heavy speeding fines.

Maryland

Speeding cameras need to be placed in such a way that they are not seen and must be hidden in plain sight. it is not enough for cameras to be placed inconspicuously. The drivers themselves should not even know how they were caught in the act once a fine is sent or levied against them. Many places that may seem like a great spot for speeding cameras may be misleading, such as the stop signs in the case of Washington D.C. Although it is difficult to ascertain the number, the state of Maryland has adopted its own regular approach to speeding cameras.

Maryland's speeding camera locations change the most throughout their lifetime. Although this may sometimes be costly, the tactics have proved effective. Because travelers are unaware of where the speeding camera can be at all times, there have been fewer speeding incidents, especially within metropolitan areas given its proximity to Washington, DC.

Missouri

One of the most legally complex situations regarding speed cameras (and the related red-light cameras) occurs in Missouri. Speed cameras are technically legal in the state—in fact, a 2022 bill to prohibit them died in committee. However, decisions by the state Supreme Court have made tickets issued via speed cameras virtually unenforceable.

In particular, the Supreme Court took issue with two aspects of speed camera tickets. First, that they did not charge "points" to the driver's record, which all moving violations must do according to state law. Secondly, that they shifted the "burden of proof" and required the owner of the vehicle to prove their innocence (specifically that they weren't the person driving the car) rather than requiring the state to prove their guilt (that the owner was in fact driving the car). This created a "guilty until proven innocent" dynamic that the court deemed unconstitutional. As such, although speed cameras may still be in operation in various municipalities, any tickets issued through them are highly unlikely to hold up in court.