Picture this: You’re driving home, taking the same route as always, when a camera snaps a photo of your license plate for running a red light. A few weeks later, a ticket arrives in the mail. This scenario could become a reality in Nevada if a proposed law passes.
What The Bill Would Do
Senate Bill 415 would allow government entities to install automated traffic cameras to catch speeders and red light runners. Current Nevada law prohibits using “photographic, video or digital equipment” for traffic tickets unless an officer is present.
The bill would let governments install these systems in areas where “traditional traffic enforcement methods have failed” or where there’s “a high rate of violations.”
The Safety Argument
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill has emerged as a vocal supporter of the bill, citing alarming traffic fatality statistics.
“I’m tired of people dying,” McMahill told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in a recent interview.
He said:
“It’s not a popular thing for me to suggest and to back red light cameras… But I think it’s also my responsibility to support what I think is the right thing.”
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, there were 159 traffic-related fatalities in 2024, with 40 already occurring in 2025. McMahill emphasized that people have a higher chance of dying from a traffic fatality than from violence.
Core Conservative Concerns
Many conservatives and limited-government advocates have serious reservations about the bill:
Government Overreach
The bill represents a significant expansion of government surveillance power. Currently, Nevada law specifically prohibits this type of automated enforcement, and for good reason. Many see it as a step toward a surveillance state that runs counter to American values of liberty and limited government intrusion.
Revenue Generation Over Safety
In other states, these systems have often become more about filling government coffers than improving safety. The bill allows revenue to be used not just for the cameras themselves but for broader “traffic safety programs,” creating financial incentives for government to issue more tickets.
Presumption of Guilt
The bill assumes the registered owner was driving at the time of violation. This flips the American principle of “innocent until proven guilty” by requiring vehicle owners to prove they weren’t driving – a reversal of normal legal burdens.
Privacy Concerns
Mass surveillance and data collection raise serious questions about what else this information might be used for in the future. Conservatives have long warned against government data collection that could later be repurposed beyond its original intent.
Additional Perspectives
Some critics have raised concerns about fairness in implementation. Studies from other states suggest automated enforcement can sometimes disproportionately impact lower-income neighborhoods where residents may have less flexibility to contest tickets or pay fines. This raises broader questions about equal treatment under the law and ensuring government power doesn’t unduly burden any segment of citizens.
How The System Would Work
If passed, the bill requires several safeguards:
- Government must conduct a 30-day public information campaign before enforcement begins
- Warning signs must be placed within 300 feet of camera locations
- A police officer must review evidence before tickets are issued
- The maximum fine would be $100 (not including additional court fees)
What’s Next?
The Senate Growth and Infrastructure Committee hearing is scheduled for March 31st. Nevadans on both sides of the issue can provide public comment by attending in person, joining via videoconference, or submitting written opinions.
For those concerned about government overreach, this bill represents an important crossroads in defining the proper relationship between citizens and their government. It raises fundamental questions about liberty, privacy, and the proper scope of government power that are central to conservative political philosophy.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
