Freedom from Automated Speed Enforcement Act of 2025
Summary
The "Freedom from Automated Speed Enforcement Act of 2025" aims to amend Title 23 of the United States Code by withholding highway funds from states that operate automated speed enforcement systems. The bill allows exceptions for school zones during school hours and active construction work zones under specific conditions. It defines an "automated speed enforcement system" as a device that captures vehicle images to issue speeding citations without a law enforcement officer present.
Expected Effects
If enacted, states using automated speed enforcement systems outside of the allowed exceptions (school and construction zones) would risk losing 10% of their federal highway funds. This could lead states to discontinue or modify their automated speed enforcement programs. The Department of Transportation would be responsible for creating regulations to implement the act.
Potential Benefits
- Could reduce the use of automated speed enforcement systems, which some consider intrusive.
- May lead to fewer citizens receiving speeding tickets issued by automated systems.
- Could increase demand for traditional law enforcement for speed enforcement.
- May improve trust between citizens and law enforcement by ensuring human oversight in traffic enforcement.
- Could incentivize states to prioritize other methods of improving road safety.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Could reduce state revenue if states choose to comply and remove automated systems.
- May lead to a decrease in traffic safety if automated enforcement is effective.
- Could increase the burden on law enforcement if they need to replace automated systems with manual enforcement.
- May slow down construction projects if automated speed enforcement is removed from work zones.
- Could result in a loss of federal highway funds for states that do not comply.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality is rooted in Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce and to set conditions on the receipt of federal funds by states, as established in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, but this is balanced by the federal government's ability to incentivize state action through funding mechanisms. The bill does not appear to infringe on individual rights explicitly protected by the Constitution.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).