Phoenix, AZ launches traffic cameras Feb. 23 with one big thing missing

Speed-only cameras launch February 23

Phoenix announced on February 2, 2026, that its new photo enforcement cameras will only issue speeding tickets.

The city will activate 17 speed-monitoring cameras on February 23, but red light violations will not trigger any citations.

Assistant street transportation director Matt Wilson confirmed there will be no red light cameras “at this time.”

The city says it still has council support to look into red light enforcement later.

Council approved red light cameras twice

The Phoenix City Council voted 8-1 in October 2024 to bring back automated enforcement. The program was supposed to include red light cameras at 10 dangerous intersections.

Council members pointed to deadly crashes and aggressive driving as their reasons for supporting the measure. Then-Vice Mayor Debra Stark said the city had seen “so much red light running and so many fatalities.”

That support has not translated into action.

The contract included red light enforcement

The council approved a $12 million contract with Verra Mobility in July 2025. That contract specified red light cameras at 10 intersections with the most serious crashes.

It also included three mobile speed vehicles and three portable speed towers.

The contract runs through March 2026 with four one-year renewal options, but the red light cameras are now missing from the rollout.

Arizona leads the nation in crash deaths

AAA reports that Arizona has the highest per-capita rate of red light running fatalities in the country. More than 350 people died from red light crashes statewide between 2008 and 2017.

Federal data shows that about 20 percent of deadly crashes in Arizona involve a red light runner. Phoenix alone saw 132 red light fatalities and nearly 6,700 injuries between 2017 and 2023.

Crashes rose after the 2019 program ended

Phoenix ended its previous red light camera program in December 2019. That program ran from 2001 to 2019 with cameras at 12 intersections across the city.

Personal injury attorney Joseph D’Aguanno says injuries and fatalities dropped by nearly a third when cameras were active.

Those numbers have gone back up since the program ended, and safety advocates want the cameras to return.

How the speed cameras will work

The city will deploy 17 cameras in total. Nine will rotate through high-crash corridors, and eight will monitor school zones.

Crews will place the cameras mid-block rather than at intersections.

Corridor cameras will rotate locations every six months, while school zone cameras will rotate weekly during the school year. The cameras will only trigger for drivers going 11 mph or more over the speed limit.

The warning period starts before tickets

A 30-day warning period begins February 23. During this time, violators will receive warning notices instead of actual citations.

Real tickets will start going out on March 25.

The city says the program focuses on safety rather than generating revenue, though critics of photo enforcement have long questioned that claim.

Police say speed drives fatal crashes

Police Sergeant Jen Zak says speed often plays a factor in dangerous crashes around the city. Distracted driving is also a major issue on Phoenix roads.

Police Commander Nicholas Diponzio says the goal is to reduce fatal collisions.

The city has only about 28 motor officers to patrol more than 5,000 miles of streets, which limits how much traditional enforcement officers can do.

State lawmakers push for camera ban

Republican Senator Wendy Rogers introduced SCR 1004 to ban all traffic cameras in Arizona. The resolution received a “Do Pass” vote from a Senate committee in January 2026.

If it passes the full legislature, voters would decide the issue in November 2026. Rogers calls automated enforcement unconstitutional and says it “turns routine driving into a revenue stream.

The governor vetoed the camera ban before

Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a similar bill in 2023. She said cameras are an important tool for law enforcement across the state.

Research shows cameras help change driver behavior and decrease fatal accidents.

A ballot resolution like SCR 1004 would bypass the governor entirely and go directly to Arizona voters for a final decision.

Other Valley cities use red light cameras

Tempe reintroduced red light cameras in 2024 and issued thousands of citations in the first few months. Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, and Paradise Valley all have traffic cameras of their own.

Paradise Valley was actually the first city in the country to use photo radar.

Tempe alone issued more than 21,000 citations in its first three months after bringing cameras back.

What happens next in Phoenix

Speed cameras go live on February 23 with the warning period, and citations for speeding begin on March 25. SCR 1004 must still pass the full House and Senate to reach the November ballot.

The city says it may revisit red light cameras in the future.

The outcome may depend on how Arizona voters decide on the statewide ballot measure in November 2026.

Visit Phoenix and the Sonoran Desert

Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the United States and offers plenty to explore. The city sits in the Sonoran Desert, known for its warm weather and striking desert landscapes.

Popular attractions include the Desert Botanical Garden, Camelback Mountain, and South Mountain Park. History lovers can visit the Roosevelt Row arts district and Heritage Square in the downtown area.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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