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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
VETOED
AMENDED
photo radar enforcement; civil penalty
Purpose
Caps the penalty for a civil traffic violation that results from a photo enforcement system at $75, except as specified, deposits $15 of the penalty in the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund and prohibits the disclosure or consideration of such a violation to determine a person's insurability or driving privileges.
Background
The state, or a local authority, may not use a photo enforcement system on a state highway to identify violators of speed restrictions or traffic signs, signals and markings. A local authority or state agency using a photo enforcement system must adopt standards and specifications that indicate to a motor vehicle operator that a photo enforcement system is present and operational (A.R.S. §§ 28-1204 and 28-1206).
If a person receives notice in the mail for a violation of state or local speed restrictions or traffic control devices that is obtained using a photo enforcement system, the person does not have to identify who is in the photo or respond to the notice of violation. The notice must state that it is not a court-issued document, but failing to respond to the notice may result in official service that may lead to an additional fee being levied. An alternative service of process may be used to serve a citation. A person's driving privilege may not be suspended or revoked as a result of a citation served by the alternative service of process (A.R.S. § 28-1602).
A photo enforcement system is a device substantially consisting of a radar unit or sensor linked to a camera or other recording device that produces one or more photographs, microphotographs, videotapes or digital or other recorded images of a vehicle's license plate for the purpose of identifying violators of speed restrictions or traffic signs, signals and markings (A.R.S. § 28-601).
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee fiscal note estimates that S.B. 1624, as passed by the House Technology and Infrastructure Committee, would decrease local government revenues by $13 million and decrease revenues to select state funds by $9.3 million which consists of decreased surcharge revenue assessed on civil traffic fines totaling $10.3 and increased Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund revenues totaling $992,700 (JLBC fiscal note).
Provisions
1. Caps, at $75, the civil penalty for a person who is found responsible for a civil traffic violation that results from a photo enforcement system, excluding a red light or school crossing violation.
2. Deposits $15 of each civil traffic penalty resulting from a photo enforcement system that is collected in the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund.
3. Prohibits a court from transmitting abstracts of records of a violation that results from a photo enforcement system, excluding a red light or school crossing violation, to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
4. Prohibits a state department or agency from considering a violation that results from a photo enforcement system, excluding a red light or school crossing violation, for the purpose of determining whether a person's driver license would be suspended or revoked.
5. Prohibits an insurer from considering a violation that results from a photo enforcement system, excluding a red light or school crossing violation, as a traffic violation against a person for the purpose of establishing rates for motor vehicle liability insurance or determining the insurability of a person.
6. Stipulates that an insurer may not cancel or refuse to renew any policy of insurance because of a violation that results from a photo enforcement system, excluding a red light or school crossing violation.
7. Makes technical and conforming changes.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives
1. Exempts a red light or school crossing violation that results from a photo enforcement system from the penalty cap and prescribed prohibitions.
2. Specifies that $15 of the $75 civil penalty is deposited in the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund.
3. Makes conforming changes.
Governor's Veto Message
The Governor indicates in her veto message that S.B. 1624 poses a national safety risk for the regulation of interstate commerce and would undermine the cities' ability to decide their own law enforcement policies.
Senate Action House Action
PS 2/11/26 DP 6-1-0 TI 3/18/26 DPA 4-2-0-1
3rd Read 2/26/26 25-2-3 3rd Read 6/11/26 36-18-6
Final Read 6/12/26 21-8-1
Vetoed by the Governor 6/19/26
Prepared by Senate Research
June 29, 2026
KJA/hk