California will soon face a new speed camera law—here's what drivers need to know
Speed demons, take note: California's getting serious about slowing you down. Thanks to Assembly Bill 645, signed into law last fall but revving into action this year, select cities across the state will soon start issuing speeding tickets using automated speed cameras.
The pilot program gives Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Long Beach and Glendale the green light to install speed safety systems in problem zones—think school areas, streets notorious for drag races and 'safety corridors' where crashes are common.
San Francisco was first out of the gate, activating 33 cameras earlier this spring. The rest will follow, with Los Angeles expected to roll out its own cameras in 2026. You won't see flashing lights in your rearview, though; these cameras work silently, snapping license plates and automatically sending out tickets.
If you're caught driving more than 11 miles per hour over the limit, get ready to pay. Penalties start at $50 and scale up to $500 for those clocked at 100 mph or more. The good news is that the first 60 days after any camera goes live are a grace period, where violators will only receive warning notices. And if you're struggling financially, the law requires cities to offer reduced fines, payment plans or even community service options.
To prevent sneaky enforcement, the law also mandates a public info blitz at least 30 days before any camera is switched on, including signage, media alerts and an online map of camera locations. Unlike red-light cameras, these cameras will only capture rear license plates—no mug shots here.
Officials hope the program improves safety while sidestepping the equity concerns tied to traditional traffic stops. The state's betting on technology to slow down traffic without bias, though each city must file a report analyzing how the cameras impact public safety and neighborhood economics.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Out
30-05-2025
- Time Out
California will soon face a new speed camera law—here's what drivers need to know
Speed demons, take note: California's getting serious about slowing you down. Thanks to Assembly Bill 645, signed into law last fall but revving into action this year, select cities across the state will soon start issuing speeding tickets using automated speed cameras. The pilot program gives Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Long Beach and Glendale the green light to install speed safety systems in problem zones—think school areas, streets notorious for drag races and 'safety corridors' where crashes are common. San Francisco was first out of the gate, activating 33 cameras earlier this spring. The rest will follow, with Los Angeles expected to roll out its own cameras in 2026. You won't see flashing lights in your rearview, though; these cameras work silently, snapping license plates and automatically sending out tickets. If you're caught driving more than 11 miles per hour over the limit, get ready to pay. Penalties start at $50 and scale up to $500 for those clocked at 100 mph or more. The good news is that the first 60 days after any camera goes live are a grace period, where violators will only receive warning notices. And if you're struggling financially, the law requires cities to offer reduced fines, payment plans or even community service options. To prevent sneaky enforcement, the law also mandates a public info blitz at least 30 days before any camera is switched on, including signage, media alerts and an online map of camera locations. Unlike red-light cameras, these cameras will only capture rear license plates—no mug shots here. Officials hope the program improves safety while sidestepping the equity concerns tied to traditional traffic stops. The state's betting on technology to slow down traffic without bias, though each city must file a report analyzing how the cameras impact public safety and neighborhood economics.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Speeding Crackdown: LA to Launch Camera Enforcement in 2026
Speed safety cameras will debut in Los Angeles starting in 2026. Assembly Bill 645, signed into law in October 2023, aims to deter reckless driving by permitting six California cities–Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, Long Beach, Glendale, and San Francisco—to install cameras that capture speeders and ticket them. San Francisco installed the first round of California speeding cameras in March of this year. The city was eager to prevent an influx of serious injuries and deaths, installing 33 cameras near school zones, parks, senior centers, and commercial areas. The high traffic congestion of Los Angeles makes increased safety measures a matter of paramount importance. In 2021, California had the second-highest number of speeding fatalities, with speeding accounting for 35% of traffic fatalities. Almost 25% of fatal car crashes in Los Angeles were attributed to speeding, according to the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. LADOT points to research indicating that speed safety cameras have the potential to cut down deadly and life-altering crashes by nearly a fifth, while The Federal Highway Administration estimates they can cut injury crashes in half. 'There are many communities that are clamoring for this because you know, their roads are high injury, high speed, death traps, and they want these cameras. They want something that will help save lives,' Damian Kevitt, executive director of Streets Are for Everyone, told the Los Angeles Times a couple of months after the law was passed. The new speed safety systems will send a ticket to the registered owner of a vehicle going over 11 miles an hour over the speed limit. Fines escalate with speed: $50 for 11–15 mph over, $100 for 15–25 mph, $200 for 26–99 mph, and $500 for those driving 100 mph or the first two months after the cameras are installed, first offense drivers speeding 11 to 15 mph over the limit will receive a warning. Although the locations of the cameras are still to be announced, it is projected that 125 locations will be the maximum recommendation.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Speed cameras are coming to Los Angeles: What we know
Los Angeles drivers will soon have new watchful eyes on the road. Speed safety cameras are coming to the City of Angeles in 2026 as part of a statewide pilot program passed by the state legislature and signed into law in 2023. Assembly Bill 645 allows for six California cities: Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, Long Beach, and Glendale, to install automated cameras to photograph and ticket drivers who speed. San Francisco was the first to roll out the cameras, installing 33 in February of this year. 'Speeding is the leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities in San Francisco,' Viktoriya Wise, streets director for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, said at the time. 'That's why we've moved swiftly to be the first city in California to introduce this life-saving tool proven to reduce speeding and protect lives.' Are California drivers stuck with high gas prices for good? In L.A., one in five fatal collisions between 2017 and 2021 involved speeding, the city's Department of Transportation states on the project's official website. LADOT said studies show these 'speed safety systems' lead to a 19% decrease in crashes resulting in fatalities or serious injuries, and cities utilizing similar technology have seen a 62% drop in drivers speeding by 10 mph or more. In San Francisco, the cameras were installed near schools, parks, senior centers, and in commercial districts. The L.A. locations have not yet been released. Breaking the speed limit by 11 to 15 mph will result in a $50 fine; 15 to 25 mph incurs a $100 penalty; speeding between 26 to 99 mph carries a $200 fine; and driving 100 mph or more will result in a $500 fine. Once the cameras are installed, a 60-day warning period will be in effect. Also, the first time a driver is caught speeding 11 to 15 mph over the limit will also result in a warning. Low-income households are eligible for payment plans and fine reductions, and qualifying recipients of speeding violations are eligible to perform community service instead of paying fines, LADOT said. Project Timeline: October 2023: AB 645 signed into law 2024: Planning and project approvals Early 2025 – Development of Impact Report and Use Policy Late 2025 Outreach Projected Early 2026 System design and construction Projected Mid 2026: System operations begin Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
