Due to limited resources many states use speed enforcement cameras—also known as photo or video enforcement—to take a digital photograph or video of a vehicle (and its license plate) that violates the speed limit. The use of speed enforcement cameras to issue speeding tickets or citations (mailed to the driver) has been controversial, with claims that it violates Constitutional rights.

Laws vary from state to state and in some states speed enforcement cameras are a permitted enforcement tool; in some states they are prohibited; and in some states they are prohibited unless permitted by a local ordinance (city or town).

To measure the speed of a moving vehicle and issue speeding tickets by photo enforcement, police departments generally use photo or video radar that relies on radio signals and the Doppler Effect or photo and video LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology that relies on lasers rather than radio waves. These devices require training on their proper use and regular calibration to be accurate.

In the state of Arkansas, the use of speed enforcement cameras, also known as photo or video enforcement, is prohibited. Arkansas state law specifically bans the use of these cameras for issuing speeding tickets or citations. This means that no automated photographic devices can be used to enforce speed regulations, and all citations must be issued by a law enforcement officer who has directly observed the violation. The prohibition applies to both state and local jurisdictions, so cities and towns within Arkansas are not allowed to use speed enforcement cameras either. This stance reflects the state's commitment to ensuring that traffic enforcement is conducted directly by trained law enforcement personnel, who can ensure the accuracy and reliability of speed measurements through proper use and regular calibration of radar and LIDAR devices.