Gov. Ducey signs bill banning photo radar cameras on state roads

PHOENIX — Those often-cursed photo radar cameras along two state roads are going away.

But don’t put the pedal to the metal just yet.

Gov. Doug Ducey on Monday signed the first-ever legislation to curb enforcement of laws on speeding and running red lights through radar and cameras.

It’s not really much. In fact, SB 1241 simply makes it illegal for local communities to put photo enforcement on state-maintained roads. And there are only two places where they remain: on Grand Avenue, also known as U.S. 60, in El Mirage and on Arizona 260 in Star Valley.

The speed cameras that had been installed on interstate highways a decade ago by then-Gov. Janet Napolitano were long since removed by her successor, Jan Brewer.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

But that was simply an administrative decision. This is the first time lawmakers themselves have actually voted to force the cameras to go dark.

Gubernatorial press aide Annie Dockendorff pointed out that the legislation leaves intact the ability of local communities to have photo enforcement on their own locally maintained streets. In fact, legislation to outlaw photo radar outright has consistently fallen by the wayside — this year included — as lawmakers decided to preserve that local choice.

A separate measure to require cities to vote to install or keep their photo systems also faltered as others pointed out that already is an option. In fact, voters in Tucson took the issue to the polls last year and shut down their cameras, all without being forced to do so by lawmakers.

Ducey’s signature does not mean the cameras come down just yet. The legislation takes effect the 91st day after the end of the session, which is likely to run another month or so.