33 speed safety camera systems begin operating in San Francisco in March 2025

SAN FRANCISCO — With the passage of AB 645, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has scheduled to install speed safety cameras at 33 locations throughout the city. The speed camera program is expected to be in operation with design, construction and installation starting March 2025.

AB 645 was introduced by Assemblymembers Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), and Mike Gipson (D-Los Angeles) in February 2023 and sponsored by WALK San Francisco, an advocacy organization focusing on pedestrian safety in San Francisco since 1998. Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 645 in October 2023.

Under AB 645, six California counties or cities, Los Angeles, Glendale, Long Beach, San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland, are allowed for the use of automated speeding cameras as a pilot program in response to the rising traffic fatalities.

The bill imposes a fine of $100 for drivers going 16 to 25 miles per hour over, $200 for going 26 miles per hour over, and $500 for going 100 miles per hour or more.

The SFMTA Board of Directors approved 33 speed camera locations in Spring 2024. Construction to install the speed safety cameras at 33 locations began in Winter 2024.

The installation of speed safety cameras at 33 locations is still in process as of late February. The exact dates for issuing warnings and citations have not been released by SFMTA yet.

According to the latest information released from SFMTA, the only Chinatown location for the speed camera program, Broadway from Powell to Stockton streets, is currently in construction. Another location close to Chinatown in North Beach, Columbus Ave from Lombard to Greenwich streets, was completed with installation.

In recent months, the SFMTA has put up billboards at some of the 33 locations to alert motorists that the cameras would be coming in March 2025.

Among the 33 locations announced by the SFMTA, the vast majority of the locations are at the east side of the city in the neighborhoods of Mission, South of Market, and Downtown.

One block on Broadway between Powell and Stockton streets is the only location in Chinatown to be selected to install speed safety cameras among the 33 locations in the city. A billboard has been put up by the SFMTA at the intersection of Broadway and Powell Street to alert drivers to the upcoming enforcement of illegal speeding under AB 645.

"Speed is the leading cause of death and serious injury on San Francisco’s streets. Speed safety cameras work by capturing the license plate numbers of vehicles going over the posted speed limit. SFMTA will issue a citation (ticket) to the vehicle owner for speeding, which will be delivered by mail," said SFMTA.

Only the rear license plate of a speeding vehicle will be captured by the speed safety cameras, according to the SFMTA. The data will be stored for SFMTA use only for up to 120 days and will not be shared with any other agency, unless court orders it to do so.

Drivers who receive citations have the option to participate in community service in lieu of paying for the citations. There are also options for payment plans and discounts for low-income households.

Once the program begins, the automated speed systems will be enforcing the speed limit at 33 locations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Walk San Francisco said AB 645 was a lifesaving legislation. "In San Francisco and statewide, speed is the #1 cause of severe and fatal traffic crashes. More than 1,000 Californians died in speed-related traffic crashes every year for the past five years, and thousands more severely injured. And the threat is growing, especially as vehicles become more powerful, " WALK San Francisco wrote as the bill's official sponsor.

WALK San Francisco believed the speed detection systems would dramatically change drivers' behavior and reduce severe and fatal crashes by as much as 58%.

The legislation protects privacy by banning any facial recognition – only license plate data will be collected, and the data must be expunged after a citation is issued.

Pedestrians are especially at higher risk when drivers go at dangerous speeds, according to WALK San Francisco. The most frequently cited study on speed and risk of fatality shows that at 25 MPH and under, a person has less than 25% chance of being severely injured or killed if they are hit.

But by 40 MPH, 75% of pedestrians suffer life-threatening or fatal injuries. And of pedestrians, those who are the most likely to be hurt or killed are seniors, people with disabilities, people of color, and low-income people.

*Editor's note: the article has been updated with latest information on enforcement from the SFMTA.