Fact brief: Are ‘speed traps’ defined in Texas law?
By Drew Shaw
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NO
Texas law doesn’t define or outlaw “speed traps,” a term generally describing a part of road, often near a change in speed limit, regularly policed by officers or devices trying to catch speeders.
However, Texas bans citations based on images captured by cameras installed at traffic signals. Cities are also prohibited from maintaining informal or formal quotas that encourage officers to issue a target number of citations.
Cities with populations fewer than 5,000 can have up to 30% of their annual tax revenue come from traffic citations. Any funds exceeding the limit are sent to the Texas comptroller.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
DriveSafe Online Speed Traps in Texas: How to Dismiss a Ticket in the Lone Star State
FindLaw Are Speed Traps Legal?
Texas Transportation Code Title 7, Subtitle C, Chapter 545, Subchapter A
Texas Transportation Code Title 7, Subtitle I, Chapter 707
Texas Transportation Code Title 7, Subtitle I, Chapter 720
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