Frequently Asked Questions
CAMERAS: Speeding
The following information is pertaining to "ADOT DPS" speed cameras and not necessarily to local jurisdiction's speed and traffic light cameras.
QUESTION: Do ADOT cameras issue citations?
ANSWER: There are no ADOT cameras that issue citations. Citations can only be issued by law enforcement officers. ADOT cameras will result in you receiving a “Notice of Violation” through the mail.
QUESTION: If I get cited, is the “Notice of Violation” going to appear on my driving record?
ANSWER: No, the Notice of Violation will not appear on your driving record because only convicted of or pleading guilty to a citation can appear on your driving record.
QUESTION: If I get a Notice of Violation, can I stop it from appearing on my driving record if I go to a school.
ANSWER: The Notice of Violation is not a citation and therefore will not appear on the driving record; therefore, attending a defensive driving school is not necessary.
QUESTION: If I am driving a company vehicle, is my company notified?
ANSWER: The “Notice of Violation” is mailed to the vehicle owner. If vehicle is in a company name, then the company will receive the Notice.
QUESTION: Is there someplace I can go to get these answers and learn more about this issue?
ANSWER: Yes, you can go to the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s photo enforcement page at AZDPS.gov/Services/Photo_Enforcement.
QUESTION: A trucking company receives a photo radar picture ticket in the mail because the trucking company is the registered owner. The trucking company pays the ticket and does not indicate the name of the driver.
What penalties may apply for not reporting a driver? Is it mandatory to do so? What may occur if a government safety officer finds out during an audit that picture tickets are just paid and no report is made to the DMV and/or no record is made in the driver's file?
I don't know what to tell our safety officers about counseling a driver; making notes in the drivers file and what penalties, if any, may apply if this comes to light in an audit. What do you tell truckers to counsel them on these subjects?
ANSWER: Compliance Review (CR) and audit personnel would not check or know about a carrier paying the photo radar notices. Those notices are not citations and there is no federal or state requirement to document anything in the driver's file.
The automated enforcement here, and in most places, involves a “Notice of Violation.” If a citation is issued, the driver would be specified and the state would report the moving violation. There would be nothing for the carrier to do in that case. If the carrier pays the Notice for the driver and doesn't ID them there is not a regulatory issue.
QUESTION: Can a “Notice of Violation” turn into a citation?
ANSWER: Please refer to the previous question on Notices of Violation. A citation can be issued after a Notice of Violation is ignored, or if the Notice of Violation for speeding is considered a serious moving violation, which is 30 mph above the speed limit here in Arizona. Under that circumstance, if and when a citation is issued to the driver, the normal course of reporting the citation to the company by the driver would apply.
To address questions or comments to the FAQ service, please call John Backowski at 602.850.6002 or email him at jbackowski@aztrucking.com
Thank you and have a safe day!