Portland Cameras Issue 69,000 Tickets in Seven Months

Portland drivers have racked up tens of thousands of tickets in recent months thanks to the city’s large network of traffic safety cameras.

The Oregon city currently has more than 30 speed and intersection cameras installed at locations with histories of serious and fatal car crashes. Over the last seven months, those cameras have led to 69,000 Portland drivers receiving citations, the city announced Tuesday.

Portland first launched its camera safety program in 2016. The city’s speed cameras are designed to catch drivers going over the speed limit, while its intersection cameras can detect both speeding and red light violations. If a camera senses a violation, it takes photos and videos that police can use to identify the driver and issue a citation.

“The deployment of speed and intersection safety cameras is a highly effective tool for ensuring that people driving obey the speed limit for their safety and the safety of others,” Portland Transportation Director Millicent Williams said in a statement.

Portland drivers aren’t the only ones racking up tickets thanks to traffic cameras. A new speed camera program in Oakland, California, resulted in 82,000 tickets in its first month of operation, while a similar program in Phoenix led to more than 30,000 drivers receiving citations or legal notices over the last two months.

Last year, Portland officials found that 74 percent of the city’s fatal crashes happened along the “High Crash Network,” which refers to the 30 deadliest streets and intersections. About 41 percent of all traffic deaths also involved speeding drivers, according to the city’s report.

Since the program first launched ten years ago, overall speeding at the original camera locations has dropped by 59 percent, city officials said. There’s also been an 88 percent drop in “top-end speeding,” which happens when drivers go more than 10 mph over the posted limit.

More safety cameras will be added across several locations, which will begin enforcement on June 27.

The program gets its funding from camera citations and registration fees for traffic safety diversion classes, according to city officials, who added that it’s purpose is “not to generate revenue.”

About 82 percent of residents support the use of intersection cameras, while 76 percent support speed cameras, according to a survey conducted by the city in 2024.

“Every person using our roadways – whether driving, biking, or walking – has a responsibility to make safe choices and look out for one another,” Portland Police Chief Bob Day said in a statement.

The Independent has contacted the city of Portland for more information.