Trump Administration Wages Quiet War on the ‘Cash Grab’ That Is Automated Traffic Cameras

The Trump administration is quietly waging a war on what has become a fixture of modern driving in cities across the country: automated traffic cameras that issue costly tickets for even the most minor speeding infractions. While the battleground has been established in Washington, D.C., an effort that began in the capital looks set to go national soon, signaling a shift in how American roadways are policed and funded.The administration has launched a broad initiative to curtail the use of automated traffic enforcement, restricting federal safety grants for traffic cameras nationwide and proposing a specific ban on their operation within Washington, D.C. The move aligns with a broader philosophy from the Department of Transportation, which views the devices less as safety tools and more as financial traps.“This Administration will not allow critical safety dollars to subsidize the purchase of speed cameras so governments can pursue unfair revenue schemes,” DOT spokesman Nathaniel Sizemore tells The Washington Post.For the moment, the administration is specifically targeting the District of Columbia, sending a proposal to the White House Office of Management and Budget that would prohibit automated traffic enforcement in the city entirely. If passed, the measure would outlaw speed, red light, and stop sign cameras in a city that currently operates 546 active enforcement cameras — devices that generated nearly $140 million in revenue for the city in fiscal year 2023.On Capitol Hill, Congressman Scott Perry has introduced legislation to support the administration’s effort, seeking to strip D.C. of its ability to use the camera systems altogether. “Automated traffic enforcement is being used to generate revenue, not enhance safety,” the Pennsylvania Republican said in a statement. “It’s un-American and should be abolished.”Now, the DOT has sent letters to states across the nation regarding the “Safe Streets and Roads for All” program, noting that traffic cameras outside of school or work zones will no longer be approved for funding.The Washington, D.C., proposal has drawn a sharp rebuke from officials in the city, which relies on the cameras for money. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser argues that eliminating the cameras “would endanger people in our community” and “mean cuts to everyday services.”Shadow Representative Oye Owolewa went further, condemning the federal interference. “The U.S. Department of Transportation’s attempt to override local decision-making by scrapping automated traffic enforcement in Washington, D.C. is an absolute dangerous overreach into the District’s affairs and a direct threat to our public safety,” Mr. Owolewa told Fox 5 in Washington.The ire over automated enforcement is not limited to the federal government — state legislatures also are beginning to scrutinize the revenue models behind the cameras.In Virginia, members of the General Assembly are considering a bipartisan effort to restrict how camera revenue is used. Senator Mark Peake, a Republican, noted that while an outright ban didn’t gain traction, he wants to expose the financial dependency of local governments.“The localities are dependent on this money now, and they have been lobbying very loudly against these bills because they’re dependent on them, which is why we need to find out what kind of taxes they are levying on our citizens,” Mr. Peake said, according to WVTF.Democrat Delegate Karrie Delaney agrees that the focus must shift back to safety. “When you have a policing program that is really intended to be for safety, there really shouldn’t be an incentive to generate more revenue out of those programs. It should really be for safety only,” Ms. Delaney said, the Virginia TV station reported.Meanwhile, in Ohio, Senator Tom Patton has proposed legislation that would require voter approval before cities can install new traffic cameras or keep existing ones. Mr. Patton notes that he hears daily complaints from constituents regarding tickets mailed from cameras, Cleveland19 reported.“I’ve called it a cash grab for many years now,” Mr. Patton said. “Getting a ticket in the mail a month later does nothing to improve the safety of the citizens.”

Trump Administration Wages Quiet War on the ‘Cash Grab’ That Is Automated Traffic Cameras

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