Photo Radar Now Available Statewide

Salem, Ore. — Governor Tina Kotek has signed House Bill 2095, expanding the use of photo radar to enforce speed limits statewide in Oregon. This means that all cities in the state can now opt-in to use photo radar, as long as they pay for the costs of operating it. Previously, only 10 cities had authorization to use this technology.

Under the new bill, there are no restrictions on the number of hours each day that photo radar can operate in a single location. Additionally, cities now have more authority to adjust speeds for certain residential streets up to 10 miles per hour lower than the statutory speed.

House Bill 2095 had bipartisan support, passing in both the Oregon Senate and House. Many mayors around the state expressed their support for the bill before it was signed, with Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall calling automated speed enforcement “essential” for keeping pedestrians and bicyclists safe.

Sherwood Mayor Tim Rosener also spoke in favor of the bill, saying photo radar would free up limited police resources to focus on higher priority calls. Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty, who testified in support of the bill in January, noted that most recent photo radar data shows about 75% of citations were given to people with driver’s licenses outside of Beaverton.

The bill will now allow the implementation of photo radar technology in the cities statewide to increase road safety.