Pittsburgh City Council
Verra Mobility’s red light cameras land on a list of 37 surveillance tools up for review.
Written by Amy Whipple
As Pittsburgh readies itself for the next round of automated red light enforcement (ARLE) cameras, city council has asked to know more about the technology’s surveillance capabilities.
The discussion during council’s Sept. 9 committee meeting came on the heels of receiving the Department of Innovation and Performance’s surveillance technology report. Verra Mobility, with which the city has the ARLE contract, is one of 37 surveillance technologies listed in the report that was compiled at council’s request.
Council Member Deb Gross of Highland Park, who has frequently expressed her concern about surveillance, said she is putting together a post agenda meeting with people who are advising cities on the technology.
Pittsburgh installed its first three ARLE cameras earlier this year. According to Jeff Skalican, Director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI), the cameras are positioned to only capture license plates. The city owns the data and permanently destroys it within 30 days of the final disposition. Any other use of the cameras or data would be in violation of state law regarding ARLE.
Council Member Erika Strassburger of Squirrel Hill North said adherence to data retention policies should be scrutinized by a controller’s audit.
The legislation on the table — which council agreed to move forward — would update the city code pertaining to automatic red-light enforcement in order to streamline enforcement with the Pittsburgh Parking Authority. Changes include allowing for online payments and the ability to use the internet or phone to request a hearing to contest a ticket.
Connections to this story
- Elected officials:
- Erika Strassburger
- Governments:
- Pittsburgh City Council
- Public meetings:
- City Council · September 9, 2026
More surveys
Have your say on more of the stories we’re covering.
Pittsburgh City Council
Permit change aims to end no parking signs that linger for weeks with no work.
In the chaos of Pittsburgh’s construction season, if it’s not one frustration, it’s another.
Pittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh City Council
Love Your Block returns after a two-year pause with $20,000 for 17 neighborhood groups.
The Office of Community Affairs (OCA) is once again helping neighborhood groups to love their blocks.
Pittsburgh City Council
Nearly $60,000 would buy a dozen trailers for snow and lawn crews.
A new Department of Public Works (DPW) purchase could help cut back the city’s overgrowth problem.
Pittsburgh City Council
Projected year-end deficit grows to $30.2 million as revenues fall short.
With the close of the second quarter, Pittsburgh’s financial situation is looking even more grim with the NFL Draft having put a $1 million hole in the budget.
Pittsburgh City Council
Allegheny County Council
County banks $100,000 by switching to digital paystubs, part of a zero-carbon goal.
Allegheny County saved $100,000 in the past year by switching to digital paystubs.
Allegheny County Council
Reports of deplorable apartments prompt a Sept. 24 hearing on senior housing.
The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development controls more than 10,000 housing units, for individuals and families, in Allegheny County.
Allegheny County Council
Proposed ban would keep data centers off county-owned property.
A majority of Allegheny County Council members have agreed they want the county not to allow data centers on county-owned land.
Allegheny County Council
Pittsburgh City Council
Closing a bike lane loophole could also destroy the case for parking on sidewalks.
A proposed change for parking regulations could force Pittsburghers to park with all four tires in the street.
Pittsburgh City Council
Beltzhoover rec center next in line for Stop the Violence funds.
McKinley Recreation Center in Beltzhoover could soon run out-of-schooltime programming with $200,000 from the city's Stop the Violence (STV) fund.
Pittsburgh City Council
Ballfield lights could go remote with a $73,050 software upgrade.
The superintendents of the city parks will soon be able to control ballfield lights with a tap on their phone.
Pittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors
Families speak out against the school board’s decision to move forward with the Future Ready plan.
The Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors’ decision in May to close up to 12 schools as it moves forward with the Future Ready plan did not end the opposition of parents and community members.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors
Community members ask the school board to advocate for more family housing.
While the Future Ready plan was developed as a response to the district’s declining enrollment and ongoing budget issues, several speakers at the June 22nd public hearing argued that PPS cannot…
Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors
Board approves the student code of conduct after a bid to delay it fails.
The school board approved a new version of the district’s code of conduct, but not before debating whether those affected should have had time to review and weigh in on changes.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors
Pittsburgh City Council
URA says the TRID can turn around an $813 million drop in Downtown property values.
Pittsburgh City Council’s July 22 committee meeting featured two hours of public comment and two and a half hours of council discussion about the proposed Downtown Pittsburgh Transit Revitalization…
Pittsburgh City Council
Two hours of comment, 40 speakers, and almost no support for the Downtown TRID.
The meeting started with two hours of public comment as 40 speakers addressed council about the TRID.