By Staff Reporter |

The Arizona Senate passed legislation to allow voters to decide whether or not they have photo radar. 

SCR 1004 would allow voters to decide whether they should be the ones to decide on photo radar installations in their communities. If passed and approved, jurisdictions with photo radar would need to receive voter approval or shut that form of automated policing down within 90 days. The bill passed with all Republicans in support and all Democrats against. 

Sen. Wendy Rogers (R-LD7), who is behind the bill, says Arizonans should have the final say on installations of photo radar in their communities. 

“Arizonans deserve a direct voice in whether automated ticketing systems operate in their communities,” said Rogers. “This measure restores accountability and makes sure enforcement decisions are made by voters specific to each town or city, not outsourced systems that many residents believe prioritize fines over fairness. If these programs truly have public support, they should be able to earn it at the ballot box.”

Rogers previously got a bill through the legislature to ban photo radar. Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed that bill. 

Several citizens spoke in favor of the bill. 

Among them was Shawn Dow, who referenced in his testimony an investigative report that $140 million went to political candidates from the 11 percent cut of photo radar tickets, and that in one case the city of Mesa was forging judge signatures on photo radar tickets. 

In the latter instance, the city continued using autopen signatures for judges who retired months before. 

“This is unconscionable that you are taking $140 million and taking it and putting it into your campaign coffers,” said Dow. 

Mesa issued a notification that they wouldn’t issue notices to the recipients of forged autopen tickets, nor would they dismiss them. Mesa’s assistant city manager, Ken Cost, told AZ Family last month that the judges’ signatures were ornamental. 

“It’s legally valid. The name is inconsequential. Totally understand where people are coming with their concern, but people need to understand their tickets were valid in the city of Mesa,” said Cost. “It was a process error, not a legal error.”

Not all were on board with how the original form of the bill would have empowered voters to decide on photo radar statewide. An approved amendment to the bill does allow local authorities and state agencies to implement photo enforcement systems by December 2026, but would require local voter approval every 10 years. 

Police leadership from Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Mesa, and Scottsdale urged lawmakers to allow more room for voter input. 

Commander Nick Diponzio with the Phoenix Police Department explained to the committee that law enforcement relies on photo radar due to the ongoing officer shortage. 

“Ideally, I would have a motor officer on every corner. However, during these challenging times technology can serve as an effective tool to reduce collisions and enhance roadway safety,” said DiPonzio. 

Chief Freeman Carney with the Paradise Valley Police Department said photo radars assist with reducing fatalities, citing their low rates of road fatalities despite getting tens of millions of drivers on their roads a year. 

Commander Stephanie Derivan with the Mesa Police Department emphasized their local community support for photo radar. Derivan shared city statistics reflecting low recidivism among drivers who received photo radar tickets.

“This is an important tool that we need to slow people down near our children,” said Derivan. 

Should the House approve the bill, the resolution would be referred to the ballot for Arizona voters to decide.

AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.