Declan O’Scanlon, a Senator from New Jersey, has criticized Washington, D.C.’s use of speed and red light cameras, describing it as a “corrupt scheme” intended to fund city operations. He called for federal intervention to dismantle the program. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
“The biggest criminal operation in DC is the corrupt speed and red light camera – government sanctioned theft – system the City government employs to fund their reign of incompetence,” said O’Scanlon. “Take over pull the plug.”
Washington, D.C.’s automated traffic enforcement program, which includes these cameras, has generated over $60 million in recent months. According to WJLA, critics argue that the city prioritizes revenue over safety since much of the money is allocated to the general fund rather than specific traffic safety projects.
The top 10 speed cameras in D.C. have collected $27.7 million in fines in early 2024 alone. Axios reports that the Potomac River Freeway camera issued nearly $5.9 million in tickets by being strategically placed in high-traffic areas to maximize both enforcement and revenue.
Automated speed and red light cameras have been shown to reduce crashes by 8–49%, injury crashes by 8–50%, and fatal or serious injury collisions by 11–44%. A Cochrane Review cited by Wikipedia indicates that such cameras consistently decrease traffic-related harm in cities worldwide.
O’Scanlon, born June 9, 1963, is a Republican state senator representing New Jersey’s 13th District since 2018 after serving in the General Assembly. According to the New Jersey Senate, he serves as the Republican Budget Officer and is a leading critic of red light camera programs.