Ensuring Safety: The Role of Speed Cameras in Arizona’s Security Landscape

The Role of Speed Cameras in Arizona’s Security Landscape

The world has long been obsessed with protecting personal and public safety. Because of this, the overall market for physical security is expected to reach 200 billion dollars by 2024. Texas is home to many reputable companies where trained professionals can provide these services, but of particular note is a newer area of security in general, which is the subject matter discussed herein. As a relatively recent phenomenon in the U.S., speed cameras are tools of the trade that the state of Arizona has begun to adopt in various cities. With many different styles and purposes, speed cameras are meant to catch people who are driving over the speed limit or taking other dangerous driving routes. It is a part of an overall solution to physical security that the state has made available to its citizens.

The most popular reasons for adding security measures, whether in the home or in the larger community, are loss prevention, asset protection, and risk management or risk mitigation. For example, all of these goals can be met through the use of video cameras, which are a part of many security systems that are installed in homes and businesses and in larger community settings. The main goal of video cameras is to manage risk in order to avoid future loss from taking place. The new approach of using speed cameras is an extension of this risk management philosophy. By educating drivers about their actions and catching them in the act, these cameras are set in place to assist in mitigating the risks of car accidents that can have devastating consequences. In addition to providing a deterrent against speeding, these cameras fall under the umbrella of greater traffic control. In many environments, added control over where traffic is and where it can go is essential to managing the risks presented by the vehicle operators. In fact, speed cameras require deep integration with both the physical infrastructure and the cybersecurity infrastructure of the surrounding context.

In addition to offering traffic control, speed cameras also provide expert witness services and help in legally prosecuting speeding cases, while also assisting with insurance fraud matters that show up in relation to other security incidents. To better understand the place of speed cameras within the context of professional security in Arizona, it is important to consider details such as their historical introduction in governmental jurisdictions throughout the state. According to the Scottsdale City Clerk, the first speed camera systems in Arizona were installed in Phoenix in September 2006. Some cities have adopted their use, while others have not. In some cases, speed cameras continue to be used only temporarily to address specific issues that arise for the community. This can be the case in smaller towns, for example, where certain dangerous areas are targeted by these cameras to manage risk and catch offenders. As described at We Like Speed Cameras, public support for speed cameras tends to ebb and flow depending on certain dispositions toward government in general.

In fact, the issue of whether the legality of speed cameras in Arizona violates the constitutional right against unreasonable search and seizure remains an open matter in several counties, and ultimately rests on interpretations of the Fourth Amendment. Several other related questions hinge on the camera system’s ability to observe individuals’ activities, such as in their neighborhoods, or when a driver is stopped by the speed enforcement authority. Successful resolution of these and related questions appears to be working in favor of speed cameras as a long-term feature of the security landscape of Arizona and other states where they have been adopted. And once speed cameras are accepted in communities, in general, their ability to reduce accidents on roadways by catching speeding drivers can lead to a much safer environment for everyone, as well as improve public health overall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that speeding is a factor that brings about the conditions for 28 percent of all traffic accidents and fatalities every year. As the need for more and more physical security systems continues, the use of speed cameras will likely continue to grow in response to community needs.