Parkway Safety Act Greenlights Speed Cameras in National Parks, Funds Park Repairs with Ticket Revenue

The newly proposed Parkway Safety and Reinvestment Act is setting up a major change for anyone who drives through the National Park System. Essentially, this bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to install speed safety cameras on highways within national parks, making automated traffic enforcement a reality in these protected areas (Sec. 2).

If a camera catches a vehicle speeding on a covered park highway, the Secretary can issue a citation and assess a civil penalty against the “responsible party” after notice and a hearing. Crucially, the definition of a "speed safety camera" specifically excludes the handheld radar used by park rangers for on-the-spot stops, focusing instead on automated systems (Sec. 3).

The Ticket-Fueled Pothole Fund

Here’s the part that gets interesting for park funding: the bill creates a dedicated revenue stream from these tickets. The Secretary is authorized to collect and spend all the revenue generated from these camera citations without needing further Congressional approval (Sec. 2). This essentially bypasses the standard budget process.

Where does the money go? It’s earmarked for two specific uses: the construction and maintenance of highways and parking facilities within the park unit where the citation was issued, and the installation, repair, and maintenance of the speed safety cameras themselves (Sec. 2). For the average visitor, this means that speeding tickets might directly translate into smoother roads and better-maintained parking lots—a self-funding mechanism for park infrastructure.

Outsourcing Enforcement and State Law Limits

To get these systems running, the Secretary can enter into contracts or agreements with outside parties to install, repair, and maintain the cameras (Sec. 2). This means the government will likely rely on private vendors to run this new enforcement technology. While this can speed up implementation, it also means the efficiency and fairness of the system will depend heavily on vendor performance and oversight.

There is a significant caveat: the Secretary can only use a speed safety camera in accordance with the laws of the state where the park highway is located (Sec. 2). This is a big deal because state laws vary wildly on automated enforcement. In states that already restrict or ban speed cameras, the Park Service would be limited in how they implement the program, creating a patchwork of enforcement across the National Park System.

What This Means for Drivers and Taxpayers

For park visitors, this bill means that if you’re caught speeding—even slightly—you’re likely going to get a ticket in the mail, not a warning from a ranger. The intent is clearly safety, particularly for wildlife and pedestrians in sensitive park areas. However, this new automated enforcement system also creates a powerful, non-appropriated funding source for the Park Service.

While dedicated funding for park maintenance is certainly welcome—those roads are often in rough shape—the provision allowing the Secretary to spend ticket revenue without Congressional oversight is worth noting. It concentrates both enforcement power and financial authority in the Secretary’s office, separating a significant chunk of park funding from the typical checks and balances of the annual budget process.