Cameras Catch Speed Demons

Jan. 31, 2008 — -- A Scottsdale, Ariz., highway became the first in the nation to be outfitted with a speed-limit enforcement camera in February 2006.

Since then, more jurisdictions have adopted the controversial tactic to catch heavy-footed drivers.

Scottsdale city officials said the cameras are working and they've seen a decrease in speeding.

"This is just another way to create a safer driving environment," said Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross. "There are a lot of irresponsible drivers out there."

The camera caught one driver clocking 131 miles per hour, roaring past a 65 miles-per-hour speed limit sign.

Montgomery County, Md. also has used speed cameras to monitor its roadways, including rural and residential streets.

Drivers who exceed the speed limit by 11 miles per hour or more receive a citation in their mailbox.

"The average speed of the vehicles on these roadways has gone down dramatically," said Montgomery Police Chief Tom Manger.

A report released Thursday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said American drivers often speed and they do so on all types of roads. The report said some communities that have implemented speeding cameras saw the number of drivers traveling at more than 75 miles per hour drop.

Before cameras, 15 percent of drivers sped, but the figure dropped to less than 2 percent after the cameras were installed, the study said.

But critics contend the cameras aren't always accurate and can have limited results.

"The only effect they have here is locally, where the cameras are placed and over a short period of time," said Charles Terlizzi of the National Motorists Association.

Still, in some cities the cameras are catching on and going up almost as fast as the cars they're watching.