- California will begin automated ticketing in LA in 2026.
- Fines start at $50 and rise to $500 for major violations.
- Drivers may face license suspension without a hearing.
Driving in Los Angeles is about to get even more stressful. Starting this year, the city is beginning its rollout of up to 125 speed cameras. Combine that with other recent changes to California state law, and one thing is clear: driving is under a new high-powered microscope. That makes sense given how quickly the number of fatal accidents in the state is climbing.
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Passed in 2023, AB-645 allows cities like Los Angeles to install speed cameras. San Francisco already has a handful of them, Glendale has nine, Oakland and Long Beach are working to expand their own programs, but LA will dwarf them both once it’s up and running.
Automated Fines Incoming
According to SecretLosAngeles, the cameras are part of a five-year Speed Safety System Pilot Program. Officials say it’s targeting “high-risk areas,” like school zones, parks, construction sites, senior centers, and busy commercial corridors.
The technology works similarly to red-light cameras. A speeding vehicle is captured on camera, and a citation is mailed to the registered owner. Not necessarily the person behind the wheel at the time, but the one listed on the registration.
The ticket system is similar to other states as well. Speeding from 11-15 mph over the limit will automatically trigger a $50 ticket, with the fine doubling for anyone going 16-25 mph over the limit. 26-99 mph over the limit gets a $200 ticket, and if someone hits triple digits above the limit, they’ll have to pay $500. That’s where other new California legislation comes into play.
As we’ve already covered, drivers caught exceeding 100 mph by the California Highway Patrol will have their citation automatically forwarded to the DMV, regardless of prior driving history.
Also: A Single AI Traffic Camera Issued Over 1,000 Fines In Just Four Days
From there, the DMV’s Driver Safety Branch can independently review the case and impose penalties that may include license suspension or revocation, even before a court case is resolved.
Rising Speeds, Rising Stakes
According to state officials, CHP issues roughly 1,600 citations per month for drivers exceeding 100 mph, totaling more than 18,000 cases in 2024 alone. The new system is designed to hit those drivers faster and harder.
All of this comes as State data indicates that dangerous driving is on the rise. Fatalities and serious injuries linked to speeding and aggressive driving have jumped 52 percent since 2010. Hopefully, these measures can make a positive impact with regard to those statistics.