- Lawmakers push speed cameras despite privacy concerns.
- Supporters say cameras save lives; critics warn on bias.
- New limits aim to curb misuse; equity concerns linger.
Massachusetts already allows police to track vehicles through widespread automatic license plate readers. What the state hasn’t allowed to this point, at least for now, is similar technology that can automatically ticket drivers who are speeding or blowing through red lights. That disconnect is now at the center of a debate in the government.
A mix of Democratic lawmakers, traffic-safety advocates, and Governor Maura Healey are backing legislation that would finally bring automated traffic enforcement to the state. Supporters argue the logic is simple: if cameras can already monitor where cars go, why not use them to reduce crashes and save lives?
Tracking Versus Ticketing Debate…