New Jersey drivers have not had to worry about automated speed cameras since the state banned them in 1992. That may be changing. Two bills introduced in the New Jersey Legislature in early 2026 would allow municipalities and counties to install speed cameras in school zones, reversing a three-decade prohibition and sparking a debate that directly affects every driver in Camden County.
Here is what is in the legislation, what it would mean locally, and where things stand right now.
What the Bill Proposes
Senate Bill 3218, titled the School Zone Automated Speed Enforcement and Safety Act, was introduced on January 28, 2026 by Senator Troy Singleton of District 7, which covers parts of Burlington County just north of Camden. A companion Assembly Bill, No. 3836, was introduced around the same time.
Together, the bills would create a narrow, tightly regulated framework for automated speed enforcement, limited entirely to designated school zones. They do not create a statewide program. Instead, they would allow local governments to opt in under specific conditions.
Under the Senate bill, a municipality or county that wants to install speed cameras would need to:
- Pass a resolution or ordinance at a public meeting approving each specific camera location
- Conduct a traffic engineering and speed study demonstrating a documented safety need, such as high pedestrian traffic, a history of speeding, or a record of crashes
- Run a 60-day warning period before issuing any fines, during which drivers receive notices only
Enforcement would be limited to weekdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Cameras could only issue violations for vehicles traveling at least 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. The maximum fine would be $75. No motor vehicle points would be assessed, and no insurance eligibility points would attach to violations captured by automated systems.
Courts would be required to offer payment plans, reduced fines, or community service for individuals who demonstrate financial hardship. Fines could not be reduced below $25 unless community service is ordered instead. Vendors operating camera systems would be prohibited from being compensated based on the number of tickets issued or revenue generated, a provision designed to prevent the financial incentive structures that have made speed camera programs controversial in other states.
What Current New Jersey Law Says
New Jersey’s current position on automated speed enforcement is one of the most restrictive in the country. A 1992 statute, codified at N.J.S.A. 39:4-103.1, prohibits law enforcement agencies from using photo radar to enforce speed limits under any circumstances. The state also discontinued its red-light camera program in 2014 after a pilot program expired without renewal.
If passed, the school zone camera bill would represent the first authorization of automated speed enforcement in New Jersey in more than 30 years.
What This Could Mean for Camden County Schools
Camden County has dozens of public and private schools spread across 37 municipalities, many of them on busy roads with significant morning and afternoon pedestrian traffic. Communities like Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Haddonfield, Collingswood, and Pennsauken all have school zones where speed compliance is a recurring concern for parents and local officials.
If the bill passes, each municipality in Camden County would have the choice of whether to pursue camera placement, subject to the required public vote and safety study. There would be no automatic rollout across the county. The process is designed to be locally driven and publicly accountable at each step.
The legislation specifies that each speed enforcement system must perform daily self-diagnostic calibration checks and undergo annual independent calibration certification. Any summons issued on a day when a system failed its calibration check would be void. These safeguards are included to address concerns about accuracy and due process that have followed automated enforcement programs in other states.
Where the Bills Stand
As of spring 2026, both bills remain in committee. Neither has been scheduled for a floor vote in the full Senate or Assembly. The legislation has drawn public comment ranging from strong support from pedestrian safety advocates to pointed criticism from drivers and civil liberties groups concerned about scope creep and enforcement equity.
The full text of Senate Bill 3218 is publicly available through the New Jersey Legislature’s bill tracking system. Residents who want to track its progress or submit public comment can do so through the New Jersey Legislature’s website.
What Drivers Should Know Right Now
Speed cameras are not currently legal in New Jersey. The bills are proposals, not law. Drivers in Camden County do not face any automated speed enforcement in school zones today.
However, if the legislation advances and becomes law, Camden County municipalities would have the ability to move quickly. The 60-day warning period before fines begin would provide advance notice, and all camera locations would have been approved at public meetings before activation.
The debate is likely to continue through the 2026 legislative session. South Jersey residents who want to follow it can track the bills through the New Jersey Legislature or stay current with local news coverage at the Camden Times. For more on how New Jersey laws affect residents and drivers in the region, see our crime and legal coverage.