Local
Phoenix voids tickets after six school-zone cameras malfunction
Six mobile cameras flashed drivers even when school zones were inactive, including motorists traveling below the speed limit. Phoenix says any tickets generated during the malfunction were rejected and the cameras are operating normally again.
Six mobile speed cameras in Phoenix school zones malfunctioned over the weekend, flashing drivers when the reduced school-zone speed limits were not in effect, the city said.
The cameras flashed some motorists who were traveling at or below the posted speed limit. One driver, Mona Buruato, said a camera near 35th Street and Osborn Road flashed her at 35 mph, the regular speed limit. She said it also flashed when she drove past at 20 mph, but not at 15 mph. The incident occurred on a Saturday evening, when school was not in session.
Other drivers reported being startled by the flashes and worried that they might receive citations. The city said any tickets generated by the affected cameras during the malfunction had been rejected. The cameras have returned to normal operation, according to a city spokesperson.
Phoenix said a contractor that operates the cameras is investigating what caused six of them to activate outside school-zone hours. The city did not provide details about the cause or say how many drivers were affected.
The malfunction raised questions for drivers about whether a camera flash meant a ticket was coming. The city’s rejection of citations from the affected school zones means drivers should not receive penalties from the malfunction, officials said.