What is AB 645?
AB 645 is California legislation that created a pilot program for automated speed enforcement (ASE), also known as speed safety cameras. This safety technology utilizes vehicle speed sensors and cameras to capture images of cars traveling at excessive speeds, typically activating when vehicles exceed the speed limit by at least 10 mph and can detect speeding across multiple lanes.
Which cities are participating in the AB 645 pilot program?
The bill initially authorized six California cities to install speed cameras: Los Angeles, Glendale, Long Beach, San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. The city of Malibu enacted SB 1297, which allows it to install up to 5 speed cameras.
When was AB 645 signed into law, and when did the pilot programs begin?
AB 645 was signed into law in 2023 by Governor Gavin Newsom. San Francisco was the first city to begin implementation, starting camera installation in March 2025 and completing it by early June of the same year. San Francisco’s cameras were set to begin operating in February 2025.
How do the fines for speeding violations under AB 645 work?
Fines under the pilot program range from $50 to $500.
- $50 for driving 11 to 15 mph over the posted speed limit.
- $100 for driving 16 to 25 mph over the posted speed limit.
- $200 for driving 26 mph or more over the posted speed limit (or 26-99 mph over in highway work zones for a related bill).
- $500 for driving 100 mph or more. Notably, low-income drivers (making less than 250 percent of the poverty level) receive reduced fees of 50% or 80% if they are indigent.
What about warnings for initial offenses?
The AB 645 pilot program requires pilot jurisdictions to issue 30 days of initial warnings before administering tickets. For example, San Francisco’s cameras began operating in February 2025, issuing no-fee warning tickets for the first 60 days before citations began in April 2025. Additionally, for first offenses, drivers traveling between 11 and 15 mph over the speed limit will receive a warning notice.
How is revenue from AB 645 fines used?
The bill stipulates that revenue collected from the camera systems must first be used to recover program costs. Any excess revenue must be used solely for local traffic-calming measures and other safer streets initiatives, including pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements, that exceed existing traffic calming budgets. The intention is for these systems to deter dangerous driving and save lives, not to raise revenue.
Does a violation under AB 645 result in points on a driver's record or affect insurance rates?
No, AB 645 stipulates that a ticket issued under this program will not be recorded as points on the driver’s record. This differs from traditional red light camera tickets, which typically result in one point being added to a driver’s record.
Who oversees the automated speed enforcement program under AB 645?
AB 645 places the pilot programs under the purview of transportation departments, not police departments. This is intended to reduce the role of police officers in traffic enforcement and help address issues of racial bias that can occur in traditional traffic stops.
What are the stated goals and benefits of AB 645?
The primary goal is to significantly reduce speeding and severe and fatal crashes, as speeding is the leading cause of such incidents in San Francisco. Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) is a proven tool for achieving this, having been shown to reduce speeding and crashes. The program also aims to advance racial and economic equity in traffic enforcement, as communities of color and low-income individuals are disproportionately harmed by traffic violence and affected by traditional enforcement biases. By deploying cameras, the program seeks to deter dangerous driving through consistent enforcement rather than relying on infrequent, in-person police stop with high fines.
What concerns or criticisms have been raised about automated speed enforcement, and how does AB 645 address them?
- Focus on Revenue: Critics often argue that automated enforcement systems primarily serve to generate revenue rather than improve safety. AB 645 addresses this by requiring net revenue to fund traffic safety measures and by implementing warning periods before fines begin.
- Disproportionate Impact: Human Rights Watch opposed AB 645 due to concerns it could disproportionately impact BIPOC communities by generating excessive fines. To mitigate this, AB 645 requires piloting jurisdictions to collaborate with civil liberty, racial equity, and economic justice organizations in their implementation plans and to conduct a racial and economic impact analysis. It also allows for means-based fine reductions for low-income drivers.
- Privacy: Concerns have been raised about surveillance and protecting driver privacy. AB 645 explicitly prohibits facial recognition, makes data confidential, and limits its use strictly to speed enforcement purposes.
- Effectiveness/Accuracy: While some studies suggest an increase in rear-end collisions from sudden braking, automated speed enforcement has been proven to significantly reduce speeding and severe and fatal crashes.
What privacy protections are included in AB 645?
AB 645 includes strong privacy protections, prohibiting facial recognition technologies and stipulating that data collected is confidential, with its use strictly limited to speed enforcement.
What is the current status of implementation for cities under AB 645?
San Francisco is the first city to have its 50 speed cameras fully installed and running as of early June 2025. Warnings were issued until August 6, 2025, when tickets began to be sent. Other cities are progressing with their plans: San Jose hopes to have cameras installed by summer 2025, with the system going live by fall; Oakland plans to have cameras online by winter 2025; Glendale aims for late 2025; and Los Angeles plans to launch its program in 2026. A start date for Long Beach has not been specified yet. Malibu is scheduled to install cameras in the fall of 2025.
