Arizona State Route 101 - Photo Enforcement

Photo Enforcement

In 2006, Scottsdale installed speed enforcement cameras along its stretch of Loop 101 to combat the high fatality rate along its section of freeway. However, the speed enforcement cameras were discontinued in August 2006. They were restarted again in late February 2007.

The photo enforcement was based on inductive sheeting on the freeway bed located at six fixed positions along the freeway - three in each direction. The photo enforcement was in a trial phase, with the trial ending in December 2006. In January 2007, the program was authorized by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to resume in February 2007.

There has been much criticism of the program since its inception. For instance, in May 2006, a vehicle was allegedly clocked traveling at 147 MPH (237 km/h) on Loop 101. Scottsdale police arrested Lawrence Pargo soon afterwards. According to the manufacturer Hyundai, the vehicle the suspect was driving had a centrifugal governor, and was only capable of traveling 137 MPH (220 km/h).

The system is calibrated to ticket anyone traveling 76 MPH (122 km/h) or greater, as 65 MPH (105 km/h) is the predetermined speed limit. The system is also designed for night time use and utilizes equipment with a high intensity flash and full motion video capture to take pictures of fast-moving objects.

Money from a typical $162 ticket goes to the following:

• $78 (about) - Goes to state surcharges for Criminal Justice Enhancement Fund and other designated state programs.
• $42 - Goes to Redflex Traffic Systems, the city's photo enforcement contractor.
• $32 - Goes to covering general operating costs for the program, including city rental payments to Redflex for the equipment and other police, prosecutor and court costs.
• $10 - Goes for a fund used only for court operations enhancements.