California Cities Advance Traffic Camera Enforcement Programs

San Jose is installing 33 automated speed cameras as part of a five-year pilot intended to curb dangerous driving and reduce traffic deaths; the city has recorded 41 traffic fatalities this year. Several cameras are on Saratoga Avenue, where residents have raised concerns about speeding, including near the site of a recent fatal motorcycle crash. Residents’ reactions are mixed: some welcome the cameras as a way to encourage safer driving, while others question their effectiveness or say the city should have given nearby residents advance notice. Officials point to San Francisco, where dangerous speeding at camera locations reportedly fell 84% during the first 18 months of enforcement. Citations are expected to begin in February, with fines ranging from $50 to $500 depending on the driver’s speed.