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 Kentucky, the use of speed enforcement cameras is not a common practice for issuing speeding tickets or citations. Kentucky does not have a state law that specifically authorizes or regulates the use of photo radar or LIDAR technology for speed enforcement. As such, speed enforcement in Kentucky is typically conducted by law enforcement officers using radar, LIDAR, or pacing methods. Officers must be properly trained in the use of these devices, and the equipment must be regularly calibrated to ensure accuracy. While some states have embraced the use of speed cameras as a tool to enforce speed limits, Kentucky has not adopted this approach at the state level. It's important for drivers to be aware that while speed cameras are not used, traditional speed enforcement methods are actively employed, and speeding violations can lead to tickets, fines, and other penalties.