Congress threatens to strip highway funds from states that use speed cameras
H.R. 5394 — Freedom from Automated Speed Enforcement Act of 2025 · Filed by Pat Harrigan (R-NC) · 4 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 16, 2025 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill penalizes states that operate automated speed cameras by withholding 10% of their federal highway funding each year, unless the state certifies that no jurisdiction within it uses such systems. States may still operate speed cameras in school zones during school hours and active construction zones under specified conditions. The bill effectively bans automated speed enforcement nationwide by making it financially prohibitive for states to permit it.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is a conditional federal funding penalty tied to state adoption of a specific enforcement technology. It is functionally a mandate disguised as a funding condition—states must choose between automated speed enforcement and highway dollars.
What the text implies
- The 10% highway funding penalty applies to ALL federal apportionments under section 104, meaning states lose money for road maintenance, bridge repair, and safety projects unrelated to speed enforcement—a blunt fiscal weapon that may harm public infrastructure in states that choose to keep automated systems.
- The bill's exception for school and work zones creates a carve-out that may incentivize states to reclassify or expand zone designations to preserve automated enforcement, potentially undermining the bill's stated intent.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill restricts a traffic enforcement tool that some argue improves public safety (particularly in school zones) while others view as privacy-invasive and revenue-driven. Citizens in states that rely on automated enforcement for safety may face reduced traffic safety measures; citizens concerned about surveillance and automated ticketing gain protection.