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Lansing council urges Michigan Legislature to authorize red‑light and speed cameras
Summary
The council unanimously approved a resolution asking the state to authorize automated red‑light and speed cameras, saying the policy would be one tool to address speeding and dangerous driving corridors such as South MLK Boulevard.
The Lansing City Council voted unanimously Monday to ask the Michigan Legislature to establish a legal framework allowing municipalities to use red‑light and automated speed cameras for traffic enforcement.
Council Member Sam Hussain said the resolution does not authorize cameras locally; it asks the state to provide a framework so municipalities could decide whether to deploy cameras after public engagement. Hussain cited studies and experience in other states and noted 23 states and the District of Columbia already permit such systems.
Council Member Terrance Jackson voiced caution, noting some studies show cameras can increase certain types of crashes; Jackson said he would support sending the request to the legislature but urged careful public input and attention to due process. Hussain said the draft resolution includes language calling for transparency and public engagement.
Public commenters and council members referenced a recent deadly drag‑racing crash on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and said the corridor requires a mix of engineering, enforcement and public outreach. Hussain and other members also described parallel efforts with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for built‑environment changes such as refuge islands and crossings that are planned for this construction season.
The council recorded the resolution as passed unanimously on voice vote. The measure asks the state to consider authorizing cameras; it does not change local enforcement authority unless and until state law does so and the city chooses to act.
