Why speed and intersection safety cameras in Portland?
Oregon state law allows cities to use speed and intersection safety cameras to improve traffic safety. 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. 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 20% chance of severe injury or death, while a pedestrian hit at 40 mph has an 80% chance of severe injury or death.
Portland's High Crash Network represent just 8% of Portland’s streets but accounted for 67% of deadly crashes from 2020 to 2024. Portland's cameras are concentrated on the High Crash Network.
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.
Please note that going through a yellow light in Oregon is a violation if you are able to stop prior to entering the intersection.
How do the cameras work?
The camera systems track multiple lanes of vehicles for speed and position, monitoring 24/7 for possible infractions. When a vehicle is either traveling faster than the posted speed limit or when the vehicle does not stop before entering the intersection when the traffic signal is clearly red, the system is triggered to capture digital photos and corresponding video which documents the infraction.
Every citation generated from the cameras is first reviewed by a Portland Police officer.
Where are the cameras located?
Updated July 29, 2025
Approximate locations of speed and intersection safety cameras in Portland.
Speed safety cameras
We are currently conducting upgrades to the system which involves replacing the cameras.
| Location | Direction of travel |
|---|---|
| SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway near 35th Avenue | westbound |
| SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway near 39th Drive | eastbound |
| SE 122nd Avenue near Reedway Street | northbound |
| SE 122nd Avenue near Steele Street | southbound |
| SE Division Street near 150th Avenue | westbound |
| SE Division Street near 150th Avenue | eastbound |
| NE Marine Drive near 33rd Drive | eastbound |
| NE Marine Drive near 138th Avenue | westbound |
| NE Columbia Boulevard near 29th Avenue | eastbound |
| NE Columbia Boulevard near 33rd Drive | westbound |
| NE Sandy Boulevard near 75th Avenue | eastbound |
| NE Sandy Boulevard near 78th Avenue | westbound |
| NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Holman Street | northbound |
| NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Ashley Street | southbound |
| NE 82nd Avenue near Klickitat Street (construction) | northbound |
| NE 82nd Avenue near Klickitat Street (construction) | southbound |
| SE Powell Boulevard near 22nd Avenue | eastbound |
| SE Powell Boulevard near 34th Avenue (construction) | westbound |
| SE Powell Boulevard near 60th Avenue (pre-design) | both directions (two cameras) |
| SW Barbur Boulevard near 6100 block (design) | northbound |
| SW Barbur Boulevard near 5900 block (design) | southbound |
Intersection safety cameras
We are conducting upgrades to the system which involves replacing the cameras.
| Location | Direction of travel |
|---|---|
| NE Martin Luther King Jr. at Lloyd boulevards | southbound |
| SE Foster Road at 96th Avenue | westbound |
| SE Stark Street at 99th Avenue | westbound |
| SE Stark Street at 102nd Avenue | westbound |
| SE Stark Street at 122nd Avenue | eastbound |
| SE Stark Street at 148th Avenue | westbound |
| SE Washington Street at 103rd Drive | eastbound |
| NE Grand Avenue at Couch Street | northbound |
| SE 82nd Avenue at Woodstock Boulevard (repair) | northbound |
| NE 122nd Avenue at Halsey | northbound |
| NE César E Chávez boulevards at Sandy Boulevard | northbound |
| NE Sandy at César E Chávez boulevards | westbound |
| SE Grand Avenue at Madison Street | northbound |
| NE 82nd Ave at E Burnside Street | southbound |
| NE 82nd Avenue at Glisan St | northbound |
| NE Glisan Street at 82nd Avenue | westbound |
| NE Broadway and Grand Avenue | westbound |
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 or 1-800-799-7082, 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 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.
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.
Can I request video footage from the speed and intersection safety cameras?
Traffic camera footage may be requested through a Public Records Request. Choose the Public Safety service and area Portland Police bureau. Video footage not resulting in a citation is only held for 30 days.
Has the City removed some of speed and intersection safety cameras?
We are currently making upgrades to the system which involves replacing the cameras. Except for the NE Grand at Burnside intersection safety camera, which was replaced by a new camera at NE Grand at Couch in winter 2025, none of the current locations are changing.
Photo enforcement reports to the Oregon Legislature
State law requires each Oregon jurisdiction operating a photo radar program to report to the legislature each biennium. Portland submits separate reports for its speed safety cameras (Fixed Speed) and the intersection camera and mobile van cameras (Photo Radar and Red Light Running (2023-24).
The following reports are external PDF files hosted by the Oregon State Legislature.