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TRIMARC (Traffic Response and Incident Management Assisting the River Cities) is Kentucky’s network of traffic cameras, sensors, and dynamic message signs covering more than 60 miles of interstate in the Louisville metro area, operated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). The footage is not automatically saved for public download: once it cycles, it is gone. Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers holds exclusive statewide access to DOT and TRIMARC camera archives dating back six months, and reviews Kentucky’s network of approximately 275 DOT cameras on every crash case we take.
You were in a crash on I-65 or the Gene Snyder Freeway. You know the other driver caused it. But the other driver’s insurance company is saying something different, and without proof, your word is your only evidence. What most people don’t realize is that a camera may have recorded every second of that crash. The problem is that the footage disappears fast. And getting it requires knowing exactly where to look and moving the moment a case begins.
What Is TRIMARC and How Does It Work?
TRIMARC stands for Traffic Response and Incident Management Assisting the River Cities. It is an integrated system of sensors, cameras, dynamic message signs, highway advisory radio, and computer monitoring maintained by KYTC that covers more than 60 miles of interstate traffic in the greater Louisville and Southern Indiana urbanized area.
The cameras monitor I-64, I-65, I-71, I-264, I-265, and connected corridors in real time. Traffic operations personnel at the TRIMARC Traffic Management Center watch the feeds to detect incidents, coordinate emergency response, and update those overhead message boards you see on Kentucky’s highways.
The TRIMARC system is part of a broader statewide network. According to the KYTC’s traffic camera map, the state operates approximately 275 traffic cameras from Louisville to Lexington and beyond. The map itself confirms that only the current image is displayed, replaced every two minutes, and that no history is stored for public access.
The Footage Resets. The Window Closes.
Traffic camera feeds from TRIMARC and KYTC cameras cycle continuously. Once overwritten, the footage is gone permanently. Filing the right preservation request within hours of a crash is the only way to recover it. This is not something that can wait until next week.
How Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers Accesses This Footage
Most law firms do not have a systematic process for pulling DOT and TRIMARC footage. We do. Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers has exclusive statewide access to DOT and TRIMARC camera archives, with footage preserved as far back as six months. That is UVP #7 in our firm’s practice, and it is not an accident. It is the result of building direct relationships with KYTC, filing preservation demands immediately on case intake, and knowing which cameras cover which corridors.
Here is how we approach it on every car accident case:
Archive Depth We Maintain
(Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers)
Within hours of taking a crash case, our team maps every camera that could have captured the incident. That includes TRIMARC highway cameras, KYTC statewide DOT cameras, Louisville Metro traffic signal cameras, and any private business or intersection cameras along the crash route. Preservation letters go out the same day. For truck accident cases, we also send spoliation notices to the carrier to freeze onboard event camera footage, ELD data, and black-box records before anything is deleted.
Why Crash Footage Changes the Value of a Case
Insurance adjusters are trained to dispute liability. Without objective evidence, “he said, she said” disputes drag cases out and reduce settlement offers. A clear camera recording eliminates that ambiguity entirely.
A real example from our files: We handled a case where a client was trapped in their vehicle after a crash with a semi-truck. The truck driver claimed the accident could not have been prevented. TRIMARC footage showed the driver on his Bluetooth headset in the seconds before impact, failing to check his mirrors before merging. That footage was projected to add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the case value, because it turned a disputed liability case into documented negligence.
This is why footage matters: it converts opinion into fact. Research commissioned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that commercial drivers who use a hand-held mobile phone are six times more likely to be involved in a crash. That statistic is powerful in the abstract. Video showing a driver doing it at the moment of impact is decisive in a courtroom.
Camera footage also protects against insurers who claim their policyholder was only partially at fault. Under Kentucky’s pure comparative fault system, reducing the at-fault driver’s share of blame by even 20 percent can cost an injured person tens of thousands of dollars. Footage that establishes clear, undivided fault protects the full value of your claim. You can read more about how insurance companies use tactics to reduce payouts on our insurance tactics page.
Types of Traffic Cameras That May Have Captured Your Crash
Beyond TRIMARC, multiple camera systems may have recorded your crash. We investigate all of them:
TRIMARC highway cameras: Covering 60+ miles of Louisville interstate, these are the primary source for crashes on I-64, I-65, I-71, I-264, and I-265.
KYTC statewide DOT cameras: Kentucky’s broader network extends to major routes between Louisville and Lexington and into other regions of the state. We review the full statewide network for relevant footage on every case.
Traffic signal and red-light cameras: Managed by Louisville Metro and local municipalities, these cover major intersections and can capture T-bone and turning collisions that occur off the interstate.
Business surveillance cameras: Gas stations, restaurants, strip malls, and warehouses along crash corridors often have exterior cameras pointed at nearby roads. These are frequently missed by attorneys who do not canvas the physical scene.
Dashcams and body-worn cameras: Both police dashcams and first responder body cameras may have captured the aftermath of a crash or witness statements at the scene. We obtain these through open records requests under KRS 61.872, Kentucky’s Open Records Act, filed within days of case intake.
For crashes involving commercial vehicles, additional footage sources include onboard event cameras (such as DriveCam or Lytx systems), driver-facing inward cameras, and electronic logging device (ELD) data. Learn more about what goes into a truck accident investigation, including DOT out-of-service violations that may indicate a pattern of negligence.
Was There a Camera at Your Crash Scene?
We’ll check every camera in the network. Footage disappears fast. The sooner you call, the more we can preserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TRIMARC and where are the cameras located?
TRIMARC (Traffic Response and Incident Management Assisting the River Cities) is KYTC’s integrated traffic monitoring system covering 60+ miles of Louisville metro interstate, including I-64, I-65, I-71, I-264, and I-265. Cameras are positioned at key interchanges and mile markers throughout the system and feed live to the TRIMARC Traffic Management Center.
Does TRIMARC record and save traffic camera footage?
TRIMARC cameras stream live video to the Traffic Management Center, but the state does not automatically archive footage for public retrieval. KYTC’s own traffic camera page confirms that only the current image is stored, replaced every two minutes, and no public history is maintained. Preserving footage requires a timely legal hold request to the agency.
How do I get TRIMARC camera footage after an accident in Louisville?
An attorney must file a formal preservation demand to KYTC immediately after a crash, before the footage cycles. The public cannot access archived DOT footage on their own. Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers holds exclusive statewide access to TRIMARC and DOT camera archives going back six months and initiates preservation the day a case is opened. Call (502) 888-8888 to start that process.
Can traffic camera footage be used in court?
Yes. Authenticated video footage from traffic cameras, including TRIMARC and KYTC cameras, is admissible evidence in Kentucky civil and criminal proceedings. It is routinely used to establish fault, contradict false accounts, and demonstrate the severity of a crash. The footage must be obtained legally and properly preserved, which is why involving an attorney immediately is critical to the process.
How long does Kentucky keep traffic camera footage before it is deleted?
KYTC’s traffic camera system continuously overwrites images and does not maintain a public archive. Without a preservation hold from an attorney, footage from TRIMARC and most state traffic cameras is typically gone within 24 hours of a crash. Business surveillance cameras may retain footage for three to thirty days depending on the system.
How many DOT cameras does Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers check for each case?
We review Kentucky’s statewide network of approximately 275 DOT cameras on every crash case we handle, in addition to TRIMARC cameras, Louisville Metro traffic signal cameras, and private business surveillance along the crash corridor. No single camera is overlooked. Our archives extend back six months, which means we can often recover footage even after weeks have passed.
What if there are no traffic cameras near my crash scene?
If no TRIMARC or DOT camera captured the crash, we pursue business surveillance, dashcam footage from witness vehicles, police body cameras, and fleet event cameras if a commercial vehicle was involved. For crashes on non-interstate roads, intersection cameras and residential security systems are also investigated. Crash reconstruction and witness accounts supplement the record when no video exists. See also: car accident injuries and how we document them.
Does Kentucky law require drivers to be in a crash to be filmed by TRIMARC?
No. TRIMARC cameras record traffic continuously during operation. Any vehicle traveling through covered corridors may appear in the footage. When a crash occurs within range of an active camera, that footage becomes potential evidence in any resulting car accident claim. The camera does not need to be aimed directly at the collision point to capture relevant pre-crash behavior.
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