Indiana local governments could approve cameras to catch school zone speeding

County or municipal officials could approve school zone speed cameras by ordinance. This would apply where a county or municipal government approves camera enforcement of a school zone speed limit. Officials would have to inform drivers and post camera signs before installing a system. An independent lab would have to check each camera yearly. Police would review images before notices go out. They could not send a notice if they believed bad weather made the speeding impossible to avoid safely. If passed, the camera program would take effect July 1, 2026.

A camera-detected first violation would bring a warning; the second would bring a $75 fine, and the third and later violations would bring $150 fines. The rules would apply to vehicle owners whose cars are recorded speeding where a local government approves school zone cameras. An owner could contest the charge by showing they were not driving, the car had been reported stolen, or the camera was not properly checked. A rental company would not be presumed to have driven the car. If passed, these penalty rules would take effect July 1, 2026.

Officials would keep camera images confidential and use them as evidence only to collect the related civil fine. These limits would apply to images collected by school zone speed cameras. Cameras could not photograph the front of a vehicle. Images could be shared only with listed recipients unless a court ordered otherwise. Images would have to be destroyed no later than two years after collection.

Local governments would use camera fines to pay system costs and support public safety and infrastructure. Counties and municipal governments that use the cameras would report their violation notices and fines to a state roads and transportation committee. At least half of each civil fine would pay for installing, running, and maintaining the cameras. The rest would go to the local general fund for public safety and infrastructure. A local government could also charge a fee for processing an electronic fine payment. Governments using the cameras would submit those reports by November 1 each year.