The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has announced plans to deploy AI-enabled mobile cameras on roadways statewide. The technology is designed to provide real-time data on traffic violations, including seatbelt use, cellphone activity, speeding, and out-of-service vehicles, according to DPS officials.
The department approved a sole-source contract with Acusensus Inc. on Thursday to lease mobile, multi-violation detection systems. The three-year, $2.05 million contract is funded through federal grants. Acusensus’s trailer-based systems can operate in all weather conditions, capturing high-resolution images and prosecutable evidence of illegal driver behavior without motion blur, even at speeds up to 186 miles per hour.
Acusensus, which has been deployed in Australia and five U.S. states, says its systems can detect violations day or night and minimize false positives. Major Scott Henley of DPS said the technology will be used to monitor high-crash corridor areas where routine patrols are impeded by construction or other factors. The system can automatically send evidence to officers, who can then decide whether to issue citations in real time.
Lawmakers expressed concern about privacy and civil liberties. House Ways and Means Chairman Trey Lamar said the legislature should review the cameras’ use to protect citizens’ rights. State Rep. Dan Eubanks called the technology invasive, questioning whether AI is an appropriate substitute for direct police observation. Senate Minority Leader Joey Fillingane indicated support as long as the cameras are used solely for traffic safety, opposing their use for automatic ticketing without officer involvement.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
