Congressman Pat Harrigan Introduces the Freedom from Automated Speed Enforcement Act

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) introduced the Freedom from Automated Speed Enforcement Act of 2025, legislation to cut off federal highway funds from states that rely on automated speed cameras as a source of revenue.

"Automated speed cameras aren't about safety, they're about revenue," said Congressman Harrigan. "These systems hand out mass fines without context, without discretion, and without due process. They don't stop reckless drivers, they don't engage with the community, and they don't make our roads safer. What they do is quietly drain the pockets of hardworking Americans under the false banner of public safety. Real safety comes from police officers who can make judgment calls, respond in real time, and build trust in the communities they serve. If states want federal highway dollars, they should be investing in real law enforcement, not outsourcing public safety to a machine that functions like a cash register on a pole."

The Freedom from Automated Speed Enforcement Act reduces federal highway funding by 10% for any state that permits automated speed cameras, unless the governor certifies each year that no jurisdiction in the state operates such systems. That certification would be subject to federal audit to ensure compliance. The bill makes only narrow exceptions for cameras in clearly marked school zones during school hours and in active construction sites with proper signage and speed-limit warnings.

Congressman Harrigan is urging his colleagues to support the legislation and put a stop to what has become a hidden tax on drivers.