---
title: "Live Caltrans roadside camera snapshots near a point or on a route."
method: GET
path: "/v1/tools/get_cameras"
---

# Live Caltrans roadside camera snapshots near a point or on a route.

`GET /v1/tools/get_cameras`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://mcp.commutescout.com`
- URL: `https://mcp.commutescout.com/v1/tools/get_cameras`
- Auth: one of:
  - none
  - API key in header `X-API-Key`
  - HTTP bearer

Live Caltrans roadside camera snapshots near a point or on a route.

    Data: ~3,000 in-service Caltrans cameras statewide. Every returned
    image_url was verified live moments ago (offline cameras that serve a
    placeholder frame are filtered out), so images can be shown directly.
    Snapshots refresh roughly every minute; stream_url (when present) is
    an HLS video stream.

    Filters: center "lat,lon" (required unless route is given) with
    radius_km; route (e.g. "I-80", "50") narrows to that highway. Results
    sort nearest-first when a center is given. Use a camera to let the
    user SEE conditions: fog on the pass, snow on the pavement, traffic
    density at an interchange.

## Query parameters

- `center` string
- `route` string
- `radius_km` number
- `limit` integer

## Response `200`

The tool's result.

- object

## Other responses

- `400`: A parameter is missing, unknown or malformed.
- `401`: The API key is unknown or revoked.
- `429`: Slow down; Retry-After says how long.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/commutescout/apis/commutescout-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/commutescout/apis/commutescout-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/commutescout/apis/commutescout-api/revisions/70427a609edf?raw)