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DOT Proposes Ban on D.C. Automated Traffic Cameras

Congress will decide the measure as part of the upcoming surface transportation package.

Overview

  • A Department of Transportation proposal sent to the White House budget office, first reported by Politico, would prohibit automated enforcement in Washington.
  • The plan would outlaw speed, red-light and stop-sign cameras used to ticket drivers for violations including bus-lane and truck-route restrictions.
  • D.C. operates roughly 546 active cameras, with fines typically ranging from $100 to $500 depending on the offense.
  • The program generated $139.5 million in fiscal 2023, $213.3 million in 2024 and $267.3 million in 2025, according to the D.C. Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
  • Local officials and safety advocates call the move federal overreach that risks public safety, while Rep. Scott Perry argues the cameras primarily serve as revenue generators; a DOT spokesperson said multiple policy options remain under internal review.