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.”
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
