Due to limited resources many states use speed enforcement cameras—also known as photo or video enforcement—to take a digital photograph or video of a vehicle (and its license plate) that violates the speed limit. The use of speed enforcement cameras to issue speeding tickets or citations (mailed to the driver) has been controversial, with claims that it violates Constitutional rights.

Laws vary from state to state and in some states speed enforcement cameras are a permitted enforcement tool; in some states they are prohibited; and in some states they are prohibited unless permitted by a local ordinance (city or town).

To measure the speed of a moving vehicle and issue speeding tickets by photo enforcement, police departments generally use photo or video radar that relies on radio signals and the Doppler Effect or photo and video LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology that relies on lasers rather than radio waves. These devices require training on their proper use and regular calibration to be accurate.

In Georgia, the use of speed enforcement cameras is regulated under state law. Specifically, Georgia permits the use of speed detection devices including both radar and LIDAR technologies by law enforcement agencies. However, the use of speed cameras for issuing traffic citations is more restricted. According to O.C.G.A. § 40-14-18, speed enforcement cameras may only be used in school zones, and citations can be issued based on these cameras' readings. The law also requires proper signage notifying drivers of the speed detection devices in use. Additionally, the devices must be regularly calibrated, and operators must be adequately trained to ensure accuracy. While there is controversy surrounding the use of speed cameras, in Georgia, their use is allowed within the specific parameters set by state law, focusing on the safety of school zones.