BACKGROUND 

Automated traffic enforcement technology is widely used as a supplement to law enforcement officers. Deployment of automated enforcement in the United States has increased in recent years for a number of reasons, including improved deterrence of targeted traffic violations, societal questioning of the use of law enforcement officers for routine traffic enforcement, and increasing officer vacancy rates in many law enforcement agencies. Despite widespread and growing use of automated enforcement and reported safety benefits, a number of questions are routinely raised. 

• How effective are different types of automated traffic enforcement in the United States, and how widely are they accepted? 

• How can automated traffic enforcement programs best be designed, implemented, and managed to (1) inspire confidence and trust and (2) increase compliance with traffic safety laws? 

• What program approaches and program architecture are best suited to address (1) the perception that automated traffic enforcement is used primarily to generate revenue; (2) the belief by some that privacy infringements outweigh documented safety benefits; and (3) concerns that certain communities are overrepresented and overburdened by this traffic enforcement strategy? 

Answering such questions would help state highway safety offices (SHSOs), policymakers, and other stakeholders shape traffic safety laws and public policy on the use of automated traffic enforcement. To the extent possible, guidelines developed through this project shall be relevant to current and future applications of automated traffic enforcement, including (1) various types of violations targeted, and (2) various technologies deployed. 

OBJECTIVE 

The objective of this research is to develop guidelines for (1) authorizing, implementing, and operating automated traffic enforcement programs that inspire confidence and trust and (2) assessing public opinion and concerns regarding automated traffic enforcement by jurisdictions using, or considering the use of, this technology. 

STATUS: Research underway.