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ACTIVATED in August: Left-turn cameras
Learn more about the city's activation of left-turn cameras at six intersections. When is a driver in violation? Where will left-turn cameras be monitoring traffic?
View the Channel 12 Morning Show interviewing Lt. Pat Connor about this new program.
Lt. Connor Interview
Scottsdale is a pioneer in photo enforcement
The City of Scottsdale has used photo enforcement technology since 1996 to supplement Police Department efforts to reduce red-light running and speeding. The city today contracts with a vendor to operate photo enforcement cameras at nine fixed locations and in four mobile photo enforcement vans. (Information on camera locations.)
Scottsdale also conducted the nation's first test of photo enforcment technology on a freeway in 2006 and 2007. Responsibility for the program on the Loop 101 has since been transferred to the Arizona Department of Public Safety .
Red-light citations are issued only when vehicles enter an intersection after the light has turned red. Speed citations are issued only when a vehicle is moving at 11 mph or faster above the speed limit, or 6 mph or faster over the limit in school zones. At the fixed locations at intersections, cameras photograph both red-light runners and speeders. At mid-block locations, cameras photograph only speeders.
Background on the Loop 101 Program
In January 2006, with the cooperation of the State of Arizona, Scottsdale began a nine-month demonstration program using fixed speed enforcement cameras on the portion of the Loop 101 Freeway within the city limits.
The city completed the initial phase of the demonstration project in October 2006, covered the cameras, but continued to collect data on the speed of traffic when cameras were not in use.
A preliminary report issued by Dr. Simon Washington of Arizona State University showed that the cameras had lowered average speeds by about 10 mph and reduced the overall number and severity of collisions.
Following the report, the city asked Gov. Janet Napolitano to allow the state of assume control of the program. The Governor responded that the state needed additional time to determine how a statewide photo enforcement program would work, and she asked Scottsdale to resume photo enforcement on the Loop 101 until June 30. The City Council agreed, and the program was reactivated in February of 2007.
As noted above, the city transferred administration of the program to DPS in July 2007.
Studies and reports on the Loop 101 demonstration project
- Dr. Washington's report on preliminary results is available at:
Summary Report (pdf/1.4mb/93pp)
- The complete report to the City Council, including background information on Dr. Washington's report and survey results:
January 16, 2007 Item 35 (pdf/25kb/271pp)
- The report to the City Council proposing reactivation of the program:
January 30, 2007 Item 12 (pdf/5mb/19pp)
- You can also view Dr. Washington’s presentation and the Council discussion by clicking on the link to the Regular Council Meeting video for January 16, 2007, at the following address. Photo Enforcement is No. 35 on the agenda:
http://scottsdale.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=9