By Madeline Bates
Mail

Love them or hate them, the red-light cameras at 14 Tempe intersections have proved to benefit both the Tempe Police and Tempe drivers with a drop in both collisions and fatalities on Tempe’s busiest intersections.

Thomas Haubold, the police traffic program supervisor for Tempe Police, spent over 27 years as a motor vehicle officer making arrests and reporting accidents on the streets of Tempe. After three years of retirement, he returned to the force to help with the red-light cameras that were installed in June and has a team of six people to help review data and issue citations as needed.

Haubold says the city had a 36% reduction in rear-end collisions from 2024 to 2025. Also, there were no fatalities from June to December 2025 at any of the intersections with red light cameras.

“The hardest part of the job was going to someone’s house and having to tell them that their loved one died in a crash and would not be coming home that day. If I can be part of something that hopefully reduces that it’s a big bonus for me,” he said.

The cameras, owned by Verra Mobility, a transportation technology company headquartered in Mesa, are rented by the city and assist with photo and video releases to government entities. There are 16 cameras at intersections across the city.

When a driver is found to be speeding or runs a red light, Verra’s technology takes photos of the driver and the license plate as well as a video to help officers determine the speed and navigation of the vehicle. If a vehicle violates a law, Verra and the officers contact the Motor Vehicles Division of the state the car is registered in to find the registered owner and potential drivers.

Officers then compare photos from the time of the violation to the driver’s license to determine if there is a match. If there is, a citation is sent to the address on file.

If there is no match, a notice is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle with instructions on how to proceed.

Haubold says that the force does not store personal data, but does store photo and video evidence for up to three years.

He also said photos and videos can only be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and are not shared with other government agencies unless granted by a judge with reasonable evidence. 

Although unpopular by the public, Mayor Corey Woods says the presence of the cameras has changed his own driving habits.

“If I’m driving and I come to a yellow light, knowing that I could potentially get a $230 ticket is why I slow down and hit the brakes,” he said at Tempe Neighborhood Day during a discussion about the cameras.

Haubold says this is true and has proved a common misconception about the cameras as false.

Prior to the cameras being installed, members of the public shared their concerns about the cameras increasing rear-end accidents, as drivers could potentially hit their brakes too hard during a light change.

Though the cameras have not proven a decrease in citations, Haubold is hopeful that with more time, Tempe could get to zero violations and zero crashes year-round.

He explained that because of the high density of people commuting into the city during the day partnered with the student population influx throughout the year, traffic violations are common and 

his is a huge benefit to not only the police department, but for the detectives and everyone who drives through our city every day,” he said.  

To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Madeline Bates
Reporter | Tempe/East Phoenix

mbates@iniusa.org

Meet Madeline

Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).  

Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.

Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.

Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.

Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.