If you’re driving in Texas and wondering whether those automated red-light ticket cameras are still legal, the answer is no. Texas outlawed red-light cameras back in 2019, and that ban is still fully in place today. Cities were ordered to shut them down, stop ticketing, and remove the systems unless they were stuck in an old contract that had to run out. By 2025, almost all of those contracts have expired, and the systems are no longer operating.
What the Texas Law Says
In 2019, Texas passed House Bill 1631, which:
- Banned the use of red-light cameras statewide
- Prohibited new contracts for automated enforcement
- Required cities to terminate existing programs once their vendor contracts ended
- Stopped the issuance of new automated red-light citations
This wasn’t a temporary move. The law didn’t include a sunset clause, so the ban stays in effect unless the Legislature repeals it — and there’s no sign of that happening.
What That Means?
1. No City in Texas Can Legally Issue a Red-Light Camera Ticket
Houston, Dallas, Austin, Arlington, Plano — every city had to shut their systems down. Most removed the cameras completely.
2. Old TicketsCan’tBe Sent to Collections
When the law passed, the state barred counties from refusing vehicle registrations over unpaid camera tickets. That protection still applies.
3. If You Get a “Red-Light Camera” Ticket Today,It’sAlmost Certainly a Scam
Several counties have reported scam mailers that look official. Legitimate automated enforcement is prohibited.
Why Texas Banned Red-Light Cameras
Lawmakers argued that:
- Cameras didn’t consistently reduce accidents
- They created due-process problems because no officer witnesses the violation
- Cities appeared to use them more for revenue than public safety
- Many Texans felt they were unfair or inaccurate
The Legislature responded by shutting them down statewide.
Are There Any Exceptions in 2025?
There is one narrow exception, but it rarely applies now:
Contracts Signed Before 2019
Cities that had binding contracts with camera vendors before the 2019 law were allowed to finish those contracts so the city wouldn’t face a lawsuit. Most of these expired between 2020 and 2023.
By 2025, almost no active contract remains. Even if a city technically still has a leftover contract, it cannot issue red-light tickets because:
- The state no longer allows enforcement
- The county cannot block registrations for unpaid citations
- Courts have tossed many of the remaining cases
In practice, the red-light camera era in Texas is over.
Can Texas Bring Back Red-Light Cameras?
Technically yes — but only if:
- The Legislature repeals or amends House Bill 1631
- Cities decide to reinstate the systems
- New due-process rules are added
So far, no bills have gained traction to bring them back. Lawmakers have been far more interested in banning new enforcement technologies, not adding more.
What Texans Should Know
- There are no legal red-light cameras operating in Texas as of 2025.
- Police officers can still issue red-light citations the old-fashioned way.
- Speed cameras remain banned too, except in limited special-use situations like school buses (but even those are tightly restricted).
- If you get a camera ticket in your mail, verify authenticity — almost all are scams now.
Overall, red-light cameras are not legal in Texas. The statewide ban is still in force, the old programs have been dismantled, and cities cannot ticket drivers using automated systems. Texas chose human-enforced traffic law, not automated cameras, and nothing in 2026 suggests that approach is changing anytime soon.
