Speed and intersection safety cameras

Why speed and intersection safety cameras in Portland?

To achieve Portland’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets, we're installing speed and intersection safety cameras at and along the highest-crash streets and intersections across the city. These cameras will play a critical part to help enforce safe driving behaviors along with infrastructure and education. 

Speeding is deadly

Speeding is a top contributing factor to deadly crashes across the Portland region. Even small increases in speed can significantly increase both the risk of crashing and the severity of injuries when a collision occurs. A pedestrian hit at 20 mph has a 10% chance of severe injury or death, while a pedestrian hit at 40 mph has an 80% chance of severe injury or death.

Oregon state law allows Portland to use speed and intersection safety cameras only on its most dangerous streets — our High Crash Network. While these highest-crash streets and intersections represent just 8% of Portland’s streets, in 2022 they accounted for 70% of deadly crashes. 

Automated enforcement is a proven tool

We're using speed and intersection safety cameras to enforce safe driving because research indicates it works. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration completed an international survey of automated enforcement and found that speed safety camera enforcement reduces injury crashes by 20 to 25%. A more recent Cochrane survey found that speed safety cameras reduced total crashes by up to 49% and deadly and serious injury crashes by up to 44%. 

What are speed and intersection safety cameras? 

Speed safety cameras

Speed safety cameras (sometimes referred to as "fixed speed cameras") issue citations for speeding. 

Intersection safety cameras

Intersection safety cameras issue citations for speeding and red light running. We are upgrading some existing speed safety cameras to intersection safety cameras. 

A red light camera system is connected to the traffic signal and sensors buried in the pavement at the crosswalk or stop line. The system continuously monitors the traffic signal. Any vehicle passing over the sensors after the signal has turned red triggers the camera to take two photos and record the date, time of day, time elapsed since the beginning of the red signal, and the speed of the vehicle.

Please note that going through a yellow light in Oregon is a violation if you are able to stop prior to entering the intersection. 

Where are the cameras located?

Updated October 7, 2024

^{Approximate locations of speed and intersection safety cameras in Portland.}

Speed safety cameras

Intersection safety cameras

* Actively issuing citations as red light cameras and in progress towards becoming intersection safety cameras.

How can I resolve my citation?

There are several ways to resolve a speed or intersection safety camera citation:

• Pay a fee to take a class and dismiss the citation 
  • Paradigm Driving Solutions is the official class provider
  • The online class is available in Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese
  • Discounts may be available for individuals with low-income
  • Call Paradigm Driving Solutions, 971-701-0331, if you have questions
• Pay your citation online (via the Oregon Justice Department's Courts ePay) 
  • Discounts may be available based on your driving history
• Enter a plea of no contest and send a letter of explanation
  • This option waives your right to a trial and provides a written appearance
  • Make sure the court receives your citation before the day and time you're required to appear in court
  • Discounts may be available based on your written statement
• Appear in court
  • Enter a plea of not guilty and request a trial
  • Submit a written request for trial
  • Make sure the court receives your citation before the day and time you're required to appear in court
• Request a trial with written statements only
  • No court appearance or testimony
  • Contact the court before the day and time you're required to appear in court to determine if you qualify
• Submit a certificate of innocence if you're not the driver
  • Make sure the court receives your certificate of innocence within 40 days of the incident date on the citation

Call the photo enforcement violation hotline, 503-221-0415,Multnomah County Circuit Court, 971-274-0545 (Portland) or 971-274-0700 (East Multnomah County/Gresham), if you have questions.

Learn more about your options for resolving a citation

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I request a safety camera on my block?

We are no longer taking request for speed and intersection safety camera locations. We have a limited number of safety cameras in the city, and we're assessing and prioritizing camera locations on our Vision Zero highest-crash streets and intersections. Camera locations are typically planned years in advance of construction.

We do still encourage you to formally report traffic safety incidents because we feel it’s important to document community concerns. You may do so through Portland Bureau of Transportation's Non-Urgent Traffic Safety Report Form or dialing 503-823-SAFE (7233). And you’re always welcome to make requests or reports concerns through PDX 311, by emailing 311@portlandoregon.gov or calling 3-1-1.

You may pick-up a Vision Zero yard sign at the Portland Building (1120 SW 5th Avenue) front desk during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). 

How can I avoid a safety camera citation?

We post signs ahead of all safety cameras to help people avoid a citation. Signs may  include text that reads “traffic laws photo enforced,” the speed limit, and a speed reader board displaying a driver’s speed.

Commonly used travel apps also warn travelers about the presence of cameras.

What is the typical fine for a safety camera citation?

A speeding citation in Oregon may range from a Class C to Class A violation resulting in fines from $170 to $440. A red-light running citation in Oregon is a Class B violation resulting in a $265 fine. Penalties are the same as a violation initiated by any other means. 

Where does the fee money go towards?

The purpose of speed and intersection safety cameras is to change behavior, not to generate revenue.

State law requires that money received from speeding tickets can only be spent to cover the cost of the program or pay for safety improvements and programs on the High Crash Network. 

Experience from other communities indicates that speed safety cameras results in rapid behavior change. Seattle’s speed safety camera system saw a 64% drop in the average number of citations per day after two years.

I saw a camera flash, but I was following all traffic laws. Am I going to receive a citation?

If you were following speed limit and not running a red light, you should not receive a citation. The cameras can take pictures of several cars at a time, so it is possible another person's driving behavior triggered the camera. Please note that going through a yellow light in Oregon is a violation if you are able to stop prior to entering the intersection. 

If you're still concerned, please contact us and we'll check the database for your license plate. 

Is there a way to obtain camera footage?

The safety cameras do not continually capture footage. Safety cameras only flash and capture images when someone breaks a traffic law — either speeding or running a red light.

Hasn't Portland had speed safety cameras for a long time?

Prior to 2015, state law only allowed photo radar systems to be operated in mobile vans for no more than four hours in one location with a uniformed police officer present. This resulted in inconsistent enforcement and a “decay effect” — travelers return to speeding once the van leaves. The newer speed safety camera system provides more consistent and predictable speed control on Portland’s most dangerous streets.

Photo enforcement reports

The following reports are external PDF files hosted by the Oregon State Legislature.

• Fixed Speed (2021-2022)
• Fixed Speed (2019-2020)
• Fixed Speed (2017-2018)
• Fixed Speed (2015-2016)
• Photo Radar & Red Light Running (2021-2022)
• Photo Radar & Red Light Running (2019-2020)
• Photo Radar & Red Light Running (2017-2018)