Alabama Tests Photo Speed Enforcement in I-65 Work Zone to Improve Crew Safety
Vehicle owners can get a civil citation or warning only for speeding recorded while crews are present, and citations can start Nov. 16 at the earliest.
- By Danielle Naidu
- Nov 06, 2026
Highway workers and drivers in an Interstate 65 work zone in Chilton County, Alabama, are the focus of a state test of photographic speed enforcement. The goal is a safer work zone for both groups, ALDOT said.
Testing will happen near milepost 209 at the Walnut Creek Bridge Replacement Project, the only interstate work zone in the pilot. Drivers heading toward the site will see special signs saying the speed limit there is photo enforced.
Worker presence decides which records count. The system measures vehicle speeds and captures evidence when it detects a vehicle going faster than the statutory threshold. After screening, only records made while workers are present go to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) for review. ALEA may then send the vehicle's registered owner a civil traffic citation or a warning notice.
The 2026 Alabama Work Zone Safety Act set up the pilot, and state lawmakers directed ALDOT and ALEA to run it together. ALDOT handles the work zone and transportation side. Law enforcement review, civil citations and appeals fall to ALEA.
Equipment setup starts this month. Civil citations will not begin before Nov. 16. Under the act, the pilot runs through September 2028 unless the Legislature passes an act extending it.
Notices are mailed to the registered owner and are a civil matter, not a criminal charge. Each one lists the alleged speed, recorded images, the penalty amount and the right to an administrative hearing. If the vehicle was rented or leased, the notice explains how to supply renter or lessee information. ALEA will not assess license points or suspend or revoke a license for a violation under the act.
About the Author
Danielle Naidu is assistant editor for Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.