SF Launches California’s First Fixed Speed Cameras, Fines Scaled By Income

Fines start at $50 for those caught speeding between 11-15 mph over the speed limit once the 2-month grace period expires

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In a city known for its steep hills, expensive coffee, and relentless tech experiments, San Francisco is trying out a new strategy for traffic enforcement. It’s now the first city in California to install fixed-speed cameras at 33 locations across town. Predictably, the move is stirring up some controversy, but local officials are banking on the cameras to curb crashes and injuries. For now, they’ve kept the cameras limited to school zones and high-injury corridors, areas where speed tends to have the highest stakes.

Read: San Francisco Couple Threatened With $1,500 Fine For Parking On Their Own Driveway

The speed cameras were switched on last Thursday and will initially be used during a two-month trial period. After those two months are up, locals who break the speed limit will start to receive fines in the mail. The locations of all the speed cameras have been shared publicly, so it shouldn’t take long for locals to know where they are.

Fines Tied to Speed and Income

Fines will only be issued if a driver is exceeding the speed limit by 11 mph. If they’re driving between 11-15 mph over the limit, the fine will be $50. The fine climbs to $100 if driving 16-25 mph over the posted limit, $200 if driving 26+ mph over, and $500 for any car driving 100 mph or more in the city.

One notable detail is that these fines are civil penalties only, meaning no points on your license. Low-income drivers are also eligible for a 50% discount, defined as anyone living alone and earning under $30,120 per year. The income thresholds adjust based on household size:

Income Requirements for Low-Income Discounts

According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), it could issue as many as 42,000 citations daily. Speaking with ABC7 News, SFMTA transportation director Julie Kirschbaum said there’ll be warning signs at every intersection with a speed camera, and other cities across California could roll out speed cameras in the future.

Local advocacy group Walk SF says that 42 people were killed in traffic accidents in San Francisco last year. It’s confident the cameras will get people to slow down.

“Speed cameras change behavior and then that reduces crashes,” Walk SF communications director Marta Lindsey said. “New York City has just seen dramatic results in behavior change and very few people getting second tickets, so people learn quickly.”