Wilmington, DE Mobility & Curb Rules: Red-Light Cameras (2026)
Key Facts
- Base civil assessment
- Up to $110 per violation
- Late penalty (90+ days)
- Up to $140 total
- Governing section
- City Code § 37-95
- Enforcement type
- Civil, not criminal: no license points
- First authorized
- Ordinance No. 98-108, October 1998
Summary
Wilmington runs an automated red-light camera program under City Code § 37-95: vehicle owners face a civil assessment up to $110 for running a red light, captured on photo or video, with escalating late fees.
Vehicular traffic facing the red traffic signal shall stop before crossing the stop limit... Such failure to stop for a red traffic signal may be recorded by a traffic signal violation monitoring system in accordance with a program or authorization approved by city council and the city government... The owner of the vehicle shall be liable for a civil or administrative monetary assessment not to exceed $110.00, provided, however, that the city may provide for an additional assessment not to exceed $10.00 if the civil or administrative assessment is not paid within 14 days.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Wilmington's red-light camera ordinance (City Code § 37-95) lets the city record red-light violations with a vehicle sensor system and bill the registered owner directly: no officer has to witness the run. The base civil assessment is capped at $110, rising to $120 if unpaid after 14 days, $130 after 45 days, and $140 after 90 days, plus up to $35 in hearing costs for owners who contest and lose. It's a civil, not criminal, penalty enforced the same way as parking tickets under Chapter 37, so it never touches a driver's record or insurance rating. Council first authorized the program by ordinance in 1998 and has amended it several times since.
Violations & Fines
Running a red light caught by camera draws a civil assessment up to $110, growing to $140 if unpaid past 90 days, plus up to $35 in contested-hearing costs: billed to the registered owner, not scored against a license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Wilmington red-light camera ticket affect my driving record or insurance?
How much can a red-light camera fine cost in Wilmington?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wilmington
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