The biggest money-making speed cameras in D.C.
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A D.C. speed camera on I-295 in Southeast has beaten all others in revenue, making more than $3.8 million over the first half of the year.
Why it matters: You may have been nabbed by one of these traffic cameras in the top 20.
The big picture: D.C. wants to deploy hundreds of more traffic cameras in the coming years to deter rulebreaking motorists and balance the city's budget.
By the numbers: The I-295 speed camera is about half a mile south of Exit 1 going northbound. It took the top spot in data D.C. provided to Axios this year through the end of June.
- The two speed cameras in the K Street tunnel under Washington Circle also made the top five. The westbound camera recorded $3.1 million, and the eastbound one made $2.6 million over that period.
One infamous D.C. camera is a stop sign enforcement camera at the intersection of Blagden Avenue and Allison Street NW.
- The camera in leafy Crestwood was the 10th most lucrative, recording $1.3 million worth of violations.
- It was the highest-recording stop sign camera.
- In early 2022, some residents claimed the camera became hypersensitive, issuing more tickets than in years before.
Zoom out: 16 of the top 20 cameras were speed cameras. Two were stop sign enforcement and another two were red light cams.
What we're watching: Unpaid traffic tickets are a problem for the city and enforcement is spotty.
- Drivers owed nearly $1.3 billion in traffic fines and penalties to the District, as of May.
Be smart: D.C. can't suspend the license of a Virginia or Maryland driver even if they keep racking up tickets.
The complete list:
- I-295 SW .05 mile S/O Exit 1 N/B (speed) = $3,808,818
- 2200 block K St. NW W/B (speed) = $3,144,814
- 600 block Kenilworth Ave. NE S/B (speed) = $2,956,134
- Potomac River Freeway NW/B at 25th St. NW (speed) = $2,758,105
- 2200 block K ST NW E/B (speed) = $2,587,019
- 2800 block N Capitol St. NW S/B (speed) = $1,895,238
- 600 block New York Ave. NE W/B (speed) = $1,816,369
- 2200 block South Dakota Ave. NE SE/B (speed) = $1,432,635
- 200 block H St. NE E/B (speed) = $1,335,608
- Blagden Ave. NE/B at Allison St. NW (stop sign) = $1,300,773
- 27th St. N/B at R St. SE (stop sign) = $1,270,570
- 3300 block New York Ave. NE E/B (speed) = $1,148,559
- DC295 .7 miles S/O Eastern Ave. NE S (speed) = $1,092,708
- 4000 block Wheeler Rd. SE N/B (speed) = $1,073,204
- I-695 off-ramp E/B at 11th St. SE (red light) = $1,068,626
- 100 block Michigan Ave. NW E/B (speed) = $1,056,367
- 200 block Riggs Rd. NE E/B (speed) = $1,022,191
- 3rd St. Tunnel NW N/B by MA Ave. (speed) = $928,121
- 1900 block Branch Ave. SE N/B (speed) = $838,660
- S Capitol Ramp S/B before I St. SW (red light) = $832,555
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the top traffic camera in D.C. by revenue is on I-295 in Southeast, not Southwest.