Are AI Traffic Cameras Legal in North Carolina?

If you are facing a speeding ticket in North Carolina, you may have discovered that your violation stems from an AI speeding camera. When you discover that your ticket was written by a piece of software rather than a human police officer, you might feel a sense of injustice. Are we living in a sci-fi dystopia already? How are automated speed cameras even legal? Doesn’t this violate some aspect of the Constitution? These are questions you might want to explore with your North Carolina speeding ticket lawyer. 

North Carolina Has Installed Thousands of AI-Powered Traffic Signals

On October 1, a new law allowing automated speed cameras in school zones took effect in North Carolina. As of this writing, the law will enable cities across the Tar Heel State to install cameras in school zones. These cameras will automatically detect anyone who breaks the speed limit, and drivers could face fines of up to $250 for violations. 

Although the cameras “catch” drivers automatically, no citation will be issued unless a police officer personally reviews the footage and determines whether the driver was speeding. However, it is not clear how a driver would “question” or assess the validity of an automated speed camera. 

Human oversight is required under North Carolina law, as a purely automatic citation would rob citizens of their right to due process under the United States Constitution. If the only “witness” is a piece of AI software, then the evidence would be inadmissible in court. After all, you cannot call an AI to court and ask it to testify about what it saw. The involvement of a police officer allows you to obtain the officer’s testimony. Depending on the circumstances, they may be required to explain how they assessed the AI-gathered footage before writing the citation. 

There Are Still Various Rules Associated With Automatic Speed Cameras

Even though automated speed cameras might be legal in North Carolina, the authorities must still follow various rules in order to ensure your traffic ticket is valid. First, they must issue your ticket within 60 days of the alleged violation. If this time limit expires, you should not have to pay the $250 fine. Secondly, authorities must post warning signs within 1,000 feet of the cameras. If they fail to do this, the tickets may be invalid. Consider discussing these rules with your lawyer as you search for ways to contest your ticket. 

Can a North Carolina Speeding Ticket Lawyer Help Me?

A North Carolina speeding ticket lawyer might be able to help if you face an alleged speeding violation. Although North Carolina has adopted laws that allow automated speeding cameras, you can still fight or “contest” these tickets. Doing so might be the right call, especially if you stand to lose your license. Learn more about how to keep your driving privileges by contacting Coastal South Law today.