TUCSON – Look out – even more photo-enforcement cameras are going up in Arizona.

The Pima County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a contract that allows for the cameras throughout unincorporated areas of the county.

The three Democrats on the board voted yes, saying the cameras will reduce speeding and accidents, while the two Republicans voted against the cameras, saying they infringe on civil liberties and would hit county drivers in the wallet during tough economic times.

"Don't our kids and families have a right to be safe?" Supervisor Ramon Valadez said.

Supervisor Ray Carroll said it's unfair to ask drivers to defend themselves weeks after they were captured on camera.

County officials estimate the new contract could raise as much as $1.5 million per year, depending on the number of tickets issued and how quickly drivers respond to photo enforcement by slowing down.

That injection of money comes as the county faces tough budget decisions in response to falling tax revenue, with and the sheriff's department instituting a hiring freeze to help save money.

County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said money is not what's driving the decision.

"This is in response to a known traffic safety hazard, which is speeding in the unincorporated areas," he said.

The contract allows for the sheriff's department to deploy as many as 10 fixed units and 10 mobile van units in locations determined by accident data and traffic counters that also record the speed of passing cars. Tickets will be issued when vehicles are caught on camera going more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.

The county's most common speeding ticket costs $201, of which $94 goes to the county. The rest goes to state surcharges and the clean-elections fund.

The cameras will be operated by Scottsdale-based American Traffic Solutions Inc.

Many municipalities throughout the state use photo cameras, as does the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which has dozens of speed cameras on Arizona freeways.