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 Oregon, the use of speed enforcement cameras, also known as photo radar, is legally permitted under certain conditions. State law allows cities to deploy these cameras in urban areas, specifically in residential districts, school zones, and on designated safety corridors. The cameras capture images of vehicles exceeding the speed limit, and citations are then mailed to the registered owners of the vehicles. Oregon law requires signs to be posted to inform drivers that speed cameras are in use. Additionally, the state mandates that a law enforcement officer must review the photographic evidence before a citation is issued to ensure accuracy. The use of these cameras has been implemented as a measure to enhance road safety and reduce speeding. However, the deployment and operation of speed enforcement cameras must comply with specific statutory requirements, including regular calibration and maintenance of the equipment, to ensure the accuracy and reliability of speed measurements.