Visual Identification Guide
Identify Every Camera on the Road by Sight
VIEW LIVE CAMERA FEEDS →Traffic cameras come in many shapes and sizes, each designed for a specific purpose. According to the FHWA, real-time traffic monitoring helps drivers make safer, more informed decisions. By providing drivers with immediate visual intelligence, these systems can reduce incident-related delays by up to 40%. TrafficVision.Live aggregates over 135,000 of these monitoring feeds globally, allowing you to see exactly what each camera captures.
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LAUNCH INTERACTIVE MAP →1. CCTV Traffic Monitoring Cameras
These are the most common cameras you'll see on highways and major arterials. They observe conditions in real-time and feed video to transportation management centers. They do not issue tickets.
According to the FHWA, real-time traffic monitoring helps drivers make safer, more informed decisions.
Dome-Style Cameras:
- Shape: Spherical or hemispherical housing (6-10 inches).
- Color: Usually white or light gray.
- Housing: Tinted dome covering that hides camera orientation.
- Mounting: Attached to tall dedicated poles or light mast arms.
- PTZ: Many can Pan, Tilt, and Zoom to follow incidents.
Bullet-Style Cameras:
- Shape: Cylindrical tube (8-12 inches long).
- Color: White, gray, or beige.
- Lens: Visible lens at the front, often with a sun shade/hood.
- Mounting: Fixed brackets pointing at a specific bottleneck.
2. Red Light Cameras
Red light cameras have distinct visual characteristics designed to capture high-resolution imagery of license plates under intense lighting.
How to Spot Red Light Cameras:
- Boxy Housing: Large, rectangular metal boxes (12-18 inches).
- External Flash: Prominent external flash units on separate poles or ground-mounted.
- Multi-Unit Arrays: Usually 2-4 housings per intersection to cover every lane.
- Placement: Mounted at intersection corners, facing oncoming traffic before the stop line.
Key Identifier
If you see a boxy camera with a massive external strobe light nearby, it is almost certainly a red light enforcement camera.
3. Speed Cameras
Speed camera appearance varies by region and the specific technology (radar vs. lidar) being used for detection.
Fixed Box Cams
Large rectangular units
Often 2-3 feet tall, mounted on heavy-duty poles. Common in urban "safety zones."
Gatso-Style
The "Fin" shape
Distinctive yellow or gray box with a rear-facing camera to photograph plates as you pass.
Average Speed
Paired systems
Multiple cameras spaced 1-2 miles apart that calculate speed over distance.
Mobile Units
Unmarked vans
Cameras operated from tripod setups or through the rear windows of parked vehicles.
Avoid the Bottlenecks
Enforcement cameras are usually placed at high-risk areas. Use our monitoring network to see where traffic is actually backed up.
VIEW REGIONAL CAMERAS →4. Traffic Detection Sensors
These are often mistaken for "cameras," but they are actually sensors that control signal timing. They do not record video or capture license plates.
Above-Ground Sensors:
- Shape: Very small, compact units (4-6 inches).
- Position: Mounted directly on signal mast arms overlooking the stop line.
- Function: Use video analytics to tell the light when a car is waiting.
In-Pavement Sensors:
- Inductive Loops: Rectangular cuts in the pavement sealed with black tar.
- Wireless Pucks: Small circular sensors embedded in the center of the lane.
Quick Comparison Guide
Size Check
Small (<6") is usually a signal sensor. Medium (6-12") is usually a CCTV monitoring dome. Large (>12") is likely enforcement.
Flash Check
Visible external strobe lights or large square arrays of LEDs indicate enforcement (Red Light or Speed).
Placement Check
Cameras on top of the traffic light arm are sensors. Cameras on dedicated 30-foot poles are monitoring. Cameras at the curb-side corner are enforcement.
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CREATE YOUR ROUTE →TrafficVision.Live aggregates feeds from 600+ official sources into one seamless interface. We exclusively feature Type 1 cameras—the non-enforcement CCTV monitoring systems designed specifically for public traffic information and safety.
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START WATCHING NOW →Can a monitoring dome camera see my face?
No. Traffic monitoring cameras are mounted too high and have a wide-angle focus designed to see traffic flow, not the interior of vehicles.
Why are some speed cameras yellow?
In many countries (like the UK), the law requires enforcement cameras to be painted high-visibility yellow so they act as a deterrent rather than just a revenue generator.
Do those small sensors on top of lights give tickets?
No. The small sensors on signal arms are "Video Vehicle Detectors." They only tell the traffic light computer that a car is present so the light can turn green.
Are all highway cameras WSDOT/DOT cameras?
Most cameras on interstates are maintained by State DOTs, but municipal cameras may also be present near off-ramps and local arterials.