Red Light Cameras

Black Flock camera mounted on post next to suburban roadway in Michigan.

Commentary: Legitimate privacy fears undermine legitimate, life-saving speed camera programs

Automated traffic enforcement works — but excessive surveillance threatens to derail this key safety initiative.

August 1, 2026 - Streetsblog USA

Red light camera on post in New York City.

NYC Will Quadruple Traffic Camera Locations This Year

New York has used red light cameras since the 1990s and plans to deploy them to 600 intersections this year.

January 12, 2026 - Gothamist

Pedestrians and cars on busy Washington D.C. street and sidewalk.

USDOT Formally Moves to Ban DC Traffic Cameras

Despite the proven success of automated traffic enforcement in other cities, the Trump administration wants to eliminate D.C.’s speeding and red light cameras.

January 9, 2026 - Politico

White traffic camera mounted on a pole.

NYC to Expand Red-Light Camera Program, Target 'Ghost Cars'

The city plans to add 450 new cameras to catch red light violations.

October 31, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

White box with traffic camera at stoplight with green freeway signs for Northern California towns visible in background.

Studies Repeatedly Show Traffic Cameras Save Lives

Although divisive, speed and red-light cameras significantly improve road safety, but many U.S. jurisdictions remain resistant.

July 31, 2025 - Governing

West 72nd Street

Study: Speed Camera Citations Correlate to Safe Infrastructure

New research suggests that fewer speeding tickets are issued in neighborhoods where the city has invested in traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements.

February 16, 2022 - Streetsblog New York City

Traffic Safety

Automated Traffic Enforcement Struggles to Find Footing in California State Legislature

If Texas lawmakers hate it, California lawmakers must love it, right? Not so fast.

May 10, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Red Light Camera

Texas Lawmakers Want to Shut Down Grandfathered Red-Light Cameras

Despite a statewide ban approved by the Texas State Legislature in 2019, four Texas cities still have active contracts with photographic enforcement companies.

May 7, 2021 - The Houston Chronicle

Bike Cops

Vision Zero...Without the Enforcement

As a leading bicycle advocacy organization withdraws support for police enforcement of Vision Zero plans, the discretionary practices of traffic enforcement come under rejuvenated scrutiny.

June 11, 2020 - Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia

Driving

In N.Y.C., Speeding Is Up as Pandemic Continues

Data shows that drivers are speeding on the city’s mostly deserted streets.

April 2, 2020 - StreetsBlog NYC

Red Light Camera

Dallas Feels Impacts of Red-Light Camera Ban

Last year’s state ban ended a 13-year red-light enforcement program in Dallas. City officials say that intersections throughout the city are less safe without the cameras.

March 9, 2020 - The Dallas Morning News

Red Light Camera

Editorial: Reform, Don't Ban, Red Light Camera Programs

The Chicago Sun-Times responds to two Illinois state legislators who have recently proposed bills that would ban red light cameras statewide.

October 21, 2019 - Chicago Sun-Times

Red Light Camera

Milwaukee Wants Red Light Cameras; Wisconsin Doesn't Allow Them

Milwaukee wants Wisconsin to overturn its law that prohibits red light cameras throughout the states. New state legislation could help achieve the city's goal.

June 26, 2019 - Urban Milwaukee

Traffic Safety

Texas Bans Red Light Cameras

The state of Texas decided to preempt local traffic safety laws by banning all red light camera programs.

June 3, 2019 - KVUE

Red Light Camera

Bill to Ban Red Light Cameras Statewide Can't Get Past the Texas Legislature

A committee chair changed his mind about the consequences of a bill that would ban red light cameras in the entire state of Texas. The legislator didn't want, to paraphrase, blood on his hands.

April 10, 2019 - The Dallas Morning News

Red Light Camera

Red Light Cameras Decline While Pedestrians Killed by Red Light Runners Increase

Despite rising death tolls for pedestrians, cities around the country are getting rid of red light cameras. New York City will be next.

August 2, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Red Light Camera

Decades-Long Quest for Safer Streets Reaches an Important Milestone

Melissa Wandall has been fighting for safer conditions for Florida streets since the death of her husband Mark Wandall in 2003. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Florida upheld a traffic safety law passed in his name.

May 19, 2018 - Streetsblog

Red Light Camera

Legislation to Ban Traffic Cameras Creates Odd Political Alliances

Republicans and the American Civil Liberties Union back bills to ban red light and speed cameras in Iowa, while Democrats and law enforcement want to allow cities and counties to retain automated traffic-enforcement tools.

January 20, 2018 - Sioux City Journal

Queens Boulevard

A Vision Zero Success Story in New York

The 300-foot wide Queens Boulevard has been known as the Boulevard of Death. Since 1990, it has claimed 186 lives, 74 percent being pedestrians, including 18 in 1997 alone. A series of safety improvements have brought fatalities to zero since 2014.

December 6, 2017 - The New York Times

Red Light Camera

Chicago Settles Red Light Camera Lawsuit for $37.5 Million

Opponents of red light cameras have achieved a major victory against the Rahm Administration in Chicago.

July 22, 2017 - Chicago Tribune

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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