Letting Voters Decide: Senate Republicans Advance Ballot Measure to End Photo Radar in Arizona
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— A long-running effort to end the use of photo radar in Arizona is moving forward today as the Senate Appropriations, Transportation, & Technology Committee hears SCR 1004, sponsored by Senator Wendy Rogers.
SCR 1004 takes a direct and transparent approach: it refers the question of banning photo radar enforcement statewide to the voters, giving Arizonans the final say on an issue that has sparked public frustration for years.
Governor Katie Hobbs has repeatedly blocked legislation that would have ended the use of photo radar outright. With executive vetoes shutting down statutory reform, lawmakers are advancing the only remaining path available under Arizona's Constitution — a ballot referral that bypasses the Governor's desk and places the decision where it ultimately belongs.
The push to refer photo radar to the ballot follows a broader, multi-year effort by Republican lawmakers to address concerns over automated traffic enforcement. Previous attempts to repeal or restrict photo radar through legislation were met with resistance, despite widespread public opposition to the practice. Arizonans across the state have voiced strong opposition to photo radar, viewing it as unfair, intrusive, and driven more by revenue collection than public safety.
SCR 1004 reflects that reality. Rather than rewriting traffic laws or weakening enforcement, the resolution focuses on who should be enforcing them. Photo radar systems rely on automated cameras and third-party vendors, often operated by out-of-state companies, with limited accountability and no real-time judgment by sworn officers.
"Automated enforcement removes discretion, undermines due process, and turns routine driving into a revenue stream," said Senator Rogers. "That's not how law enforcement should work in Arizona. The resolution does not excuse dangerous driving or eliminate traffic enforcement. It ensures that enforcement decisions are made by trained law enforcement officers, not algorithms and contractors. This issue has been debated, studied, and litigated for years. The public is clear. If the Governor won't act, voters should."
If approved by the Legislature, SCR 1004 will appear on the November 2026 general election ballot, allowing voters statewide to decide whether to prohibit photo radar enforcement in Arizona.
For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona Senate Republican Caucus