Ray Stern
Audio By Carbonatix
Starting Feb. 23, Big Brother will once again be training its eye on certain Valley roadways.
Speed cameras have long been the bane of many Valley drivers’ existence, and several communities have ditched them in recent years. Phoenix did that as well, but reversed course last year when the city council appropriated money to reinstall photo radar cameras. On Feb. 23, 17 such cameras will go active throughout Phoenix.
The city made a handy map of where they’ll be, at least to start. Click here for an interactive version of the map.
City of Phoenix
Not a map person? No worries, the cameras will be at these locations:
- Thunderbird Road: 35th Avenue to Interstate 17
- 32nd Street: Greenway Parkway to Bell Road
- Thunderbird Road: Interstate 17 to 19th Avenue
- 7th Street: Thomas Road to Indian School Road
- Indian School Road: 83rd Avenue to 75th Avenue
- Camelback Road: 24th Street to 32nd Street
- 51st Avenue: Van Buren Street to Interstate 10
- Baseline Road: 16th Street to 24th Street
- Bell Road: Interstate 17 to 19th Avenue
The city said eight more cameras will be set up in 15-mph school zones throughout the city. The spots were picked “based on data, focusing on roadways with a high number of serious and fatal injuries.” Don’t worry about committing these locations to heart, though — Phoenix says the cameras will move around “based on road safety needs.”
The cameras will go live on Feb. 23, but no tickets will be issued until March 25. In between, speeders caught by the cameras will be sent a warning rather than a citation. If you’re cited — you leadfoot, you — you can pay your fine online, in person or via the mail.
The city says the program is “not intended to generate revenue,” but instead is “focused on roadway safety and changing driver behavior.” Fines generated by citations will be used “to offset the costs to City staff and vendors. Any remaining funds will be invested in implementing the City’s Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan.” Phoenix has contracted the company Verra Mobility to operate the cameras.
So, for all you speedsters out there, don’t say you haven’t been warned.
