Red light cameras on state highways
Traffic signs and signals
Effective June 2, 2019, per HB 1631, 86th Texas Legislature, local authorities are no longer permitted to install or operate photographic traffic signal enforcement systems, or red light cameras, and use of evidence from photographic enforcement systems is prohibited.
The new law does allow municipalities with ordinances enacted before May 7, 2019, that entered into a contract for the administration and enforcement of a photographic traffic signal enforcement system to continue to operate the system under the ordinance, contract, and Chapter 707 of the Texas Transportation Code until the expiration date specified in the contract, as long as the contract does not include language allowing termination of the agreement if the systems are banned. These municipalities should continue to submit Post-Activation Annual Reports to TxDOT as specified in the section on Post-Activation Annual Reports below.
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Post-Activation Annual Reports; required for all red light cameras
Pursuant to Section 7 of House Bill 1631, 86th Legislature, Regular Session, municipalities meeting certain criteria may continue to operate photographic traffic signal enforcement systems. Pursuant to Transportation Code §707.004(d), each such municipality must continue to compile and submit to TxDOT annual reports after installation showing the number and type of crashes that have occurred at the intersection.
Those municipalities that do not meet the criteria contained in Section 7 of House Bill 1631, 86th Legislature, Regular Session can no longer implement or operate photographic traffic enforcement systems.
Post-Activation Annual Report requirements
- The time frame for all annual reports will be from July 1 of the previous year through June 30 of the current year.
Note: If the camera was not active during the entire 12 month "After reporting period" July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, the report should include the crash data for the months following activation during this time period. For example, if the camera was activated on Oct. 1, 2024, the report should include crash data from Oct.1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. - All cities with photographic traffic signal enforcement systems active anytime between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, must submit final post-activation reports.
- A report needs to be completed and submitted for every intersection where a photographic traffic signal enforcement camera is installed. The deadline for submitting Post-Activation Annual Reports for the July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, reporting period is 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.