Today, AAA formally designated the state of Arizona as a Strict Enforcement Area. Under this designation, members will be cautioned on Arizona’s use of photo enforcement on state freeways and highways. This is the first time an entire state has been designated a Strict Enforcement Area.
A Strict Enforcement Area designation will be added to all electronic TripTik® maps requested by AAA members who travel in and through the state, alerting them of the state’s deployment of fixed and mobile photo enforcement cameras. Last year, over 347,000 TripTik® maps were generated by AAA Arizona members.
“AAA believes a Strict Enforcement Area designation will increase the awareness of Arizona’s speed enforcement program, thereby serving as an additional tool to encourage safe driving habits,” said Linda Gorman, public affairs director for AAA Arizona. “As an organization with nearly 52 million members nationwide and in Canada, AAA believes that we have an obligation to inform members who travel throughout our state that this technique is in place.”
To be deemed a Strict Enforcement Area, local AAA Clubs must coordinate with the AAA National Office to seek and receive this designation. After preliminary review, the National Office decided that Arizona’s unique and rapid implementation of photo enforcement was the deciding factor in the designation. There are currently nine Strict Enforcement Area locations in the United States, with the most recent designation occurring in 2005 for Washington D.C.
“This designation will serve to keep our roads safer by reminding motorists to obey traffic laws and maintain a safe speed,” Gorman added.