Alabama Launches Speed Cameras in I-65 Work Zone
A pilot photo enforcement program on Chilton County's I-65 targets speeding at the Walnut Creek Bridge replacement project.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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The Alabama Department of Transportation and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency have implemented a pilot photo speed enforcement program on I-65 near milepost 209 in Chilton County. Civil citations for speeding under the program will begin no earlier than November 16, 2026.
Why it matters
The pilot was established under the Alabama Work Zone Safety Act to test whether photo enforcement can reduce excessive speeding and improve safety for highway workers and drivers. Alabama recorded 2,543 crashes in highway work zones last year, making the effort a response to a significant safety concern for the state.
The pilot program is in its implementation phase, with signs to be posted and citation processing limited to periods when workers are present. ALEA will announce additional details about the warning period and the exact date civil citations will begin.
The players
Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT)
The state agency responsible for Alabama's highways and transportation infrastructure, handling the transportation and work zone components of the pilot program.
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)
The state law enforcement agency that reviews evidence of potential violations, issues civil citations, and manages the hearing process under the pilot program.
Elovate
A vendor providing automated traffic enforcement programs that Alabama is working with on the pilot, which operates in 13 states.
The details
Under the program, vehicles recorded traveling more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit may receive a $250 civil fine, and violations do not add points to a driver's license or result in suspension or revocation. The state is working with vendor Elovate, which operates enforcement programs in 13 states, and ALDOT handles transportation components while ALEA reviews evidence and manages citations and hearings.
Timeline
April 2026: Alabama Work Zone Safety Act passed, establishing the pilot program.
November 4, 2026: ALDOT and ALEA announced implementation of the pilot photo speed enforcement.
November 16, 2026: Earliest date civil speeding citations may begin.
Legal Context
The pilot is authorized by the Alabama Work Zone Safety Act, passed in April 2026, which created a civil enforcement framework for speeding in highway work zones. The program requires reports to the state legislature on its effectiveness, so its results will inform whether photo enforcement becomes a longer-term tool in the state.
Drivers traveling through the I-65 work zone near Chilton County should expect photo enforcement and reduced speeds during the work. Vehicles recorded more than 10 mph over the posted limit may face a $250 civil fine, though the warning period and exact citation start date have yet to be finalized.
The takeaway
Drivers should watch for posted photo enforcement signs in the Walnut Creek Bridge work zone and slow to the posted limit, since speeding over 10 mph can now bring a $250 civil fine without affecting a driver's license points.
What happens next
ALEA will announce additional details about the warning period and the exact date civil citations will begin, with civil citations possible no earlier than November 16, 2026.
Further reading
For more on how state agencies handle roadway safety enforcement, see Law Enforcement coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Al.
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