Speed cameras on California streets? This bill could bring automatic ticketing to six cities

Angela Rodriguez
·2 min read
212
A van drives through the crosswalk in June where five children were struck by a driver on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines.

You could get a speeding ticket without having been stopped if a bill making its way through the Legislature becomes law and launches a pilot program in cities across California.

Assembly Bill 645, introduced by Assemblymember Laura Friedman, D-Glendale, would create a new speed camera program in pilot cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco. These cities would test the “Speed Safety Pilot Program” where drivers who are caught speeding by the cameras would receive an automatic ticket without ever talking to a police officer.

Kerri West, a spokeswoman for Friedman’s office, said the next hearing for the bill will take place Tuesday.

“Once approved, that bill would authorize cities to use speed cameras on the first of January,” West said.

What cities would this affect?

The pilot cities would include, according to the bill:

  • Los Angeles

  • San Jose

  • Oakland

  • Glendale

  • Long Beach

  • City and County of San Francisco

“The pilot program is for five years or until January 1, 2032. After that, there will be a reassessment period,” West said.

“The point of this pilot program is to give us data on what worked, what didn’t work, and what could be improved.”

West said if the program is successful in the pilot cities, the state will consider using the program all throughout California.

How would AB 645 work?

According to the bill’s information, it would require a participating city or city and county to:

  • Give warning notices of violation during first 60 calendar days of the program

  • Develop guidelines for processing and storing information

  • Make all records confidential

  • Specify that a violation of the speed law would be subject to civil penalties

  • Provide a notice of violation, review, hearing, and appeals process for those in violation

  • Require any program to offer a diversion program for those who receive a violation

  • Submit a report to determine the system’s impact on the economy and street safety

Where does the bill currently stand?

After Tuesday’s hearing, West said the bill will go to House Committee on Appropriations.

West said this is the third time Friedman has presented this bill. In the previous attempts, the bill did not make it out of the Assembly and to Senate.

However, before the bill goes any further, West said there are three clarifying amendments that need to be added.

The three amendments include:

  • Clarifying the angle of the camera

  • How long records of penalties will be retained

  • How many occurrences of street racing would enable the installation of a camera

“None of these amendments change the bill in function, they simply elucidate provisions already within AB 645,” West said. “The Assemblymember is optimistic that this will be the first year this bill will make it to the Governor’s desk.”

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