Calgary Tribune - Arizona Voters Ban Speed Camera Expansion, Phoenix System Faces Election Vote

Arizona voters have decisively rejected the expansion of automated traffic enforcement, approving Proposition 319 to prohibit cities and towns without existing speed or red light camera programs from initiating them. The measure also mandates that municipalities with active systems, such as Phoenix, must put their continued operation to a public vote during the next general election.

The ballot initiative passed in every county across the state, reflecting a broad consensus against the controversial enforcement tactic. According to the latest official counts, 62.11% of voters statewide supported the measure, while 37.89% opposed it. In Maricopa County, which contains Phoenix, support reached 63.47%, with 36.53% voting against the ban.

The political outcome follows a period of intense local friction in Phoenix, where the speed camera program has been met with hostility since its reinstatement in March. The City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department reported 12 separate incidents of vandalism targeting the devices. These acts ranged from graffiti to physical destruction; one motorist reportedly beat a camera unit and dragged it down the road with a pickup truck. Other units have sustained bullet wounds and been tagged with spray paint.

One notable incident occurred just days before Election Day, when an individual used bright red spray paint to deface a speed camera located on the east side of 7th Street near Fate Brewing Company. The device, described by observers as resembling the Star Wars droid R2-D2 due to its stacked gray metal box design, has become a frequent target for those opposed to automated enforcement.

Despite the political backlash, city officials maintain that the cameras serve as an effective safety tool. John Trierweiler, a spokesperson for the City of Phoenix, stated in a written statement that the department respects the will of the voters but will continue its current operations until the mandated vote occurs.

"Our commitment to reducing serious crashes and saving lives remains unchanged," Trierweiler wrote.

Data provided by the city illustrates the scale of the program's activity. Since activating on March 25, the cameras have flashed drivers 336,491 times as of September 30. However, not every flash results in a citation. Of those activations, only 96,464 led to issued citations by the end of September. The remaining flashes were discarded because the photos were unusable or the driver could not be identified. In some cases, the vehicle was being driven by someone other than the owner, such as a rental car user or a friend.

Financially, the program has generated significant revenue, though the city retains only a portion of it. Of the 96,464 citations issued, 16,798 have been paid, totaling $4,175,811.90 in gross revenue. After deducting state-mandated charges and statutory assessments, Phoenix has collected $1,497,116.53.

The city pays Verra Mobility, the private company that owns and operates the cameras, a monthly fee of $3,000 for each of its 17 units, plus $20 for every citation paid. The remaining funds are allocated to staff costs for reviewing photos and supporting the city’s Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan.

While Proposition 319 exempts Phoenix from the ban on starting new programs for now, it ensures that residents will have the final say on the technology's future in the upcoming general election. The measure effectively freezes the status quo for existing systems while preventing other Arizona municipalities from adopting similar technologies without voter approval.

The passage of the measure underscores a growing tension between municipal efforts to use technology for traffic safety and public skepticism regarding automated enforcement. As Phoenix prepares for the next electoral cycle, the city’s transportation department has indicated it will continue to seek new methods to improve street safety, even as the role of speed cameras remains in question.

Q.Cook--CT