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Does Las Vegas (or specifically its suburbs) have photo radar for speeders or any red-light cameras? I was driving to Laughlin a little ways out of Vegas and wasn’t paying close attention and passed a station wagon at an angle on the side of the road and saw a flash of light, like a picture was taken of the license plate. I have gotten a photo radar ticket before where I live and it was the same kinda flash! I never did get a ticket in the mail though (yay), but I was driving a rental car, so maybe that made a difference?
Nope — unless the camera was handheld by a police officer or installed in his or her vehicle.
A 1999 statewide law bans the use of remotely controlled cameras to gather evidence against drivers who run red lights or are involved in accidents. Nevada allows traffic enforcement to use cameras, but only if they’re directly connected to a cop in the field.
The issue has reared its head in every legislative session since 2005, including the current one. Senate Bill 43 would allow local governments to install red-light cameras under certain circumstances: at problem stoplights with warning signs around the cameras, an appeal process for drivers caught by the cameras, a fine of at least $50, and no moving violation against a driver’s record. As of this writing, no action had been taken on the bill.
Major intersections throughout Nevada are under video-traffic-camera surveillance. Drivers routinely run lights several critical seconds after they’ve turned red from yellow, but the cameras don’t impose traffic-infraction tickets-by-mail on violators. Instead, they're used for surveillance purposes only, helping commuters and drivers to make travel decisions based on road conditions. They’re one part of NDOT’s statewide network of Intelligent Transportation Systems, including freeway digital message signs and Highway Advisory Radio.
Red-light cameras have prompted much debate and some controversy. On one side, studies have shown that cameras can decrease red-light running by 40%-50% and reduce the number of injury crashes by 25%-30%. The non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a nationwide study of red-light fatalities in which it compared 62 cities with populations of more than 200,000 with red-light cameras to those without. Traffic fatalities in 14 cities with red-light cameras fell by 35% between the study periods. The rate dropped by only 14% percent in 48 cities without the cameras.
On the other side, opponents argue that red-light cameras scare drivers into more sudden stops at yellow lights, which actually increases rear-end collisions. A comment we came across from a Californian attests to this, declaring that crossing major intersections can be like "flying through an asteroid belt with people desperately accelerating or slamming on their brakes in frantic fear of an uncontestable fine." Many opponents believe that the red-light cameras address not a safety issue, but a revenue issue, and are an abuse of police powers.
How do you all feel about traffic cameras used to fine drivers who run red lights?