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?
Approximate locations of speed and intersection safety cameras in Portland.
Speed safety cameras
Location | Number | Direction of travel | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway near 36th Avenue | 2 | westbound, eastbound | existing |
SE 122nd Avenue near Reedway Street | 2 | northbound, southbound | existing |
SE Division Street near 150th Avenue | 2 | westbound, eastbound | existing |
NE Marine Drive near 133rd Avenue | 1 | eastbound | existing |
NE Marine Drive near 24th Avenue | 1 | eastbound | existing |
NE Columbia Boulevard near 28th Avenue | 1 | eastbound | construction |
NE Columbia Boulevard near 33rd Avenue | 1 | westbound | construction |
NE Sandy Boulevard near 75th Avenue | 1 | northbound | construction |
NE Sandy Boulevard near 78th Avenue | 1 | southbound | construction |
NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Ainsworth Street | 2 | northbound, southbound | pre-construction |
NE 82nd Avenue near Siskiyou Street | 1 | northbound | design |
NE 82nd Avenue near Fremont Street | 1 | southbound | design |
SE Powell Boulevard near 22nd Avenue | 1 | eastbound | design |
SE Powell Boulevard near 34th Avenue | 1 | westbound | design |
SW Barbur Boulevard near Capital Highway | 2 | northbound, southbound | design |
Intersection safety cameras
Location | Number | Direction of travel | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
NE Martin Luther King Jr. and Lloyd boulevards | 1 | southbound | complete, active, issuing citations |
NE Grand Avenue and Couch Street | 1 | northbound | complete, active |
SE Stark Street and 102nd Avenue | 1 | westbound | upgraded |
SE Washington Street and 103rd Avenue | 1 | eastbound | upgraded |
SE Foster Road and 96th Avenue | 1 | westbound | pre-construction (upgrade) |
NE Sandy and César E Chávez boulevards | 2 | northbound, westbound | design (upgrade) |
SE Grand Avenue and Madison Street | 1 | northbound | design (upgrade) |
SE Stark Street and 99th Avenue | 1 | westbound | design (upgrade) |
SE Woodstock Boulevard and 82nd Avenue | 1 | northbound | pre-construction |
SE Halsey Street and 122nd Avenue | 1 | northbound | pre-construction |
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 innocent 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 speed safety camera citation?
We post signs ahead of all speed safety cameras to help people avoid a citation. Signs 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 speed 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 fixed 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.
Photo enforcement reports
The following reports are external PDF files hosted by the Oregon State Legislature.