The City of Oakland, California, will soon launch an automated speed safety camera program. The goal is to reduce reckless driving and prevent traffic crashes. The program will begin in the coming weeks with cameras installed at 18 locations across the city. These cameras will detect vehicles traveling at least 11 miles per hour over the speed limit. They will capture license plate images and issue citations to drivers who exceed the limit.
The Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) will roll out the program in phases. It will start with a public education campaign about the risks of speeding. Next, there will be a warning period where violators receive warnings instead of fines. The city expects all cameras to be working by mid-January 2026. After that, a 60-day warning period will begin. Citations are expected to start in spring 2026. Fines will start at $50 and can go up to $500 for severe speeding.
Mayor Barbara Lee said the program is important because speeding has caused harm and fatalities in Oakland. OakDOT Director Josh Rowan stated that controlling vehicle speed helps prevent deaths. Oakland is the second city in California to use this type of program. Camera locations were chosen based on crash data and speed studies. The focus is on the High Injury Network, which is 8% of city streets but accounts for 60% of severe and fatal crashes…