A speed-enforcement camera at 19th Avenue and Thunderbird Road in north Phoenix is out of commission after someone opened fire on the unit over the weekend, capping a string of vandalism that already had crews busy scrubbing graffiti. While vendor employees were on-site cleaning the device, they told police a person in a passing vehicle waved a knife at them. No arrests have been made, and the camera has been pulled from the street for repairs and investigation.
Police Confirm Gunfire, Vendor Plans to Press Charges
Phoenix police confirmed to ABC15 that the camera "was struck by gunfire this weekend" and that the private vendor that operates it "intends to pursue prosecution" over the damage. The department called the gunfire "extremely dangerous" and said the incident put others at significant risk.
According to ABC15, vendor workers also reported that someone in a passing vehicle waved a knife at them while they were removing graffiti from the unit. Police are asking anyone with information about either act to contact investigators.
Where the Program Stands
Phoenix reactivated its Photo Safety program in late February, rolling out 17 speed-monitoring cameras along several high-speed corridors and in school zones, with a 30-day warning period before fines kick in. According to the City of Phoenix's Photo Safety information, the remaining cameras are scheduled to start issuing civil citations on March 25 as part of the city's Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan.
Officials say the goal is to slow drivers in locations with a history of speed-involved crashes, not to surprise motorists who are already driving at safe speeds.
Pushback and Past Sabotage
The return of automated enforcement has not exactly been a crowd-pleaser across the Valley. The revived program drew fresh attention when flipped photo cameras back on city streets in February, prompting debates over privacy, accuracy, and whether the effort is really about safety or just revenue.
The backlash has also shown up in the form of petty crime. In one earlier incident, a Tempe man was arrested after stealing photo-radar warning signs, KOLD reported. That case is one of several episodes that enforcement crews say make it harder to hit public-safety goals and highlight the tension between traffic enforcement and public distrust.
Officials Emphasize Safety
City leaders have repeatedly said the Photo Safety program is about preventing serious crashes, not padding the budget. Program materials state that any money left over after covering costs will be reinvested in road-safety projects.
Cameras were placed mid-block on corridors such as Thunderbird Road to target stretches where officials say speed-involved collisions have been a persistent problem. That framing is central to Phoenix's decision to bring automated enforcement back after a multi-year pause.
Investigation and Legal Risks
In its statement to ABC15, Phoenix police said the weekend shooting of the camera "places others at significant risk" and urged anyone who knows what happened to contact the department. The Photo Safety vendor told police it plans to seek prosecution for the damage to its system, and investigators are reviewing footage and physical evidence as the device is repaired or replaced.
Police have not released any information about possible suspects or a timeline for charges. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Phoenix Police Department's non-emergency line or submit tips online. While detectives handle the criminal case, the city is moving forward with its broader Photo Safety rollout. Crews are checking other units in the field, and officials say the remaining cameras are still set to begin issuing citations on March 25.
