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Hawaii Camera Ticket Laws: State-Run Red Light and Speed Cameras

Independently fact-checkedBy Recording Law Editorial Team7 min read

Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 12, 2026). · 5 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content

Hawaii Camera Ticket Laws: State-Run Red Light and Speed Cameras

Hawaii's camera enforcement looks different from most states in one important way: it is run by the state, not by individual counties choosing whether to opt in. Red light cameras operate under one chapter of state law, and speed cameras operate under a newer chapter that deliberately limits itself to locations already approved for red light enforcement, a design choice that traces back to a failed statewide speed-camera program from two decades ago.

A State-Run Program, Not a City-by-City Patchwork

Most states that allow camera enforcement leave the decision to individual cities or counties. Hawaii does the opposite. Its red light camera law, HRS chapter 291J, and its speed camera law, HRS chapter 291L, both authorize implementation by the State of Hawaii or by any county following the completion of a pilot program run in Honolulu. The pilot itself was confined to specific Honolulu police districts, but the statutory framework applies statewide by design, meaning any Hawaii county could stand up a program under the same legal structure. As of this writing, it is not confirmed here whether any county besides Honolulu has actually implemented a system; check your county's own program page for current deployment.

Speed Cameras Only Where Red Light Cameras Already Are

Hawaii's speed-camera law is unusually restrictive about where it can operate. HRS 291L-2 states plainly that the program «shall be limited to only those locations where a photo red light imaging detector system has been implemented pursuant to chapter 291J.» In other words, Hawaii cannot deploy a speed camera at a location unless a red light camera has already been approved and installed there under the older chapter. Speed camera citations under this program began January 1, 2025, per HRS 291L-5(a).

a close crop of a traffic signal head showing the red lens illuminated against an overcast sky

This design is a direct legacy of Hawaii's 2002 «van cam» program, a statewide mobile speed-camera initiative that was repealed after a public backlash. Tethering the newer speed program to already-vetted red light locations appears to be a legislative attempt to avoid repeating that history.

Points, Insurance, and a Real Gap Between the Two Programs

Hawaii's red light camera statute contains a clean promise: HRS 291J-10(b) states that «any summons or citations issued or convictions resulting from this chapter shall not be recorded on a person's traffic abstract and shall not be used for insurance purposes in the provision of motor vehicle insurance coverage.» That is a strong, explicit protection.

The speed camera chapter, HRS 291L, does not repeat this language anywhere in its text. There is no equivalent no-record, no-insurance clause written into the speed-camera statute. This does not necessarily mean a speed camera violation is treated differently from a red light one in practice, since Hawaii's separate civil traffic adjudication rules could still apply similar protections, but the statutory text itself does not extend the same promise to speed violations that it gives to red light violations. Do not assume the two programs are treated identically until this is resolved by an official Hawaii source.

Owner and Lessor Liability: Hawaii's Rental-Car Twist

Both Hawaii camera statutes impose strict liability on the registered owner of the vehicle. For rental and leased vehicles, Hawaii takes an approach that is the reverse of what many mainland states do. Rather than letting the rental company transfer liability by naming the renter, Hawaii's statute makes the lessor liable in the first instance, while separately allowing the lessor to «pursue reimbursement from any applicable renter or lessee.» Practically, this means the citation itself is addressed to the rental or leasing company, which then bills the actual driver under its own rental agreement rather than the state directly substituting the renter as the liable party.

a desk with a folded letter, a pen, and a checkbook, warm lamp light, all text blurred

Fines and What Happens If You Don't Respond

Hawaii's camera fines follow the general penalty schedule in HRS 291C-161, which sets tiered amounts, though the exact dollar figure actually charged for a given citation is set locally and was not independently confirmed for this article; check your county's program page for the current amount. Fine revenue is earmarked to dedicated special funds, spent within the county where the violation occurred.

If you fail to answer a citation within 30 days of the mailing date, both HRS 291J-8 and HRS 291L-7 route the matter into Hawaii's civil traffic adjudication system, where the district court can enter a notice of default judgment against you. This is a real consequence, and it is worth treating a Hawaii camera notice as something that needs a response, even if you plan to contest it.

Information last verified on 2026-08-12. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

a mailbox with its flag up beside a suburban driveway, shallow depth of field, morning light

Last updated: 2026-08-12.

More Hawaii Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Hawaii's traffic cameras run by the state or by individual counties?

By the state, structurally. Both HRS chapter 291J (red light) and chapter 291L (speed) authorize implementation by the State of Hawaii or by any county, following completion of Honolulu's pilot program, rather than leaving it as a purely local, city-by-city choice.

Does a Hawaii speed camera ticket affect my insurance the same way a red light ticket does?

That is not confirmed. HRS 291J-10(b) explicitly bars red light camera violations from being used for insurance purposes or recorded on your traffic abstract. The speed camera chapter, HRS 291L, does not contain an equivalent clause, so do not assume the same protection automatically applies.

I got a camera ticket on a rental car in Hawaii. Who is liable?

Under Hawaii law, the rental or leasing company (the lessor) is the party held liable to the state in the first instance, though it can then seek reimbursement from you as the renter under its own rental agreement.

What happens if I don't respond to a Hawaii camera citation?

If you don't answer within 30 days of the mailing date, the matter can move into Hawaii's civil traffic adjudication system, where the district court may enter a default judgment against you.

Does Hawaii have speed cameras everywhere, or only in certain places?

Only where a red light camera has already been implemented. HRS 291L-2 limits speed cameras to locations that already have an approved photo red light imaging detector system in place; there is no independent, standalone speed-camera network.

Has Hawaii tried automated speed enforcement before?

Yes. A statewide mobile «van cam» speed-enforcement program ran in 2002 and was repealed after public backlash. The current program's decision to only place speed cameras at existing red-light sites reflects that history.

Updates

Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources

Sources and References

  1. HRS 291J-7 to 291J-10, Photo red light imaging detector systems(capitol.hawaii.gov).gov
  2. HRS 291J-9, Lessor and lessee liability (red light)(capitol.hawaii.gov).gov
  3. HRS 291L-2, Program limited to existing red light camera locations(capitol.hawaii.gov).gov
  4. HRS 291L-6 to 291L-8, Owner and lessor liability (speed)(capitol.hawaii.gov).gov
  5. HRS 291C-161, General penalty schedule for traffic violations(capitol.hawaii.gov).gov
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