Imagine if a camera caught you going above the speed limit and you immediately received a fine — no questions asked, no chance to explain yourself. That’s exactly what Los Angeles drivers might experience when the city installs 125 automated speed cameras later in 2026.
The decision to use automated speed cameras stems from an effort to reduce the role of judges in early penalty decisions. The California Highway Patrol issues approximately 1,600 citations each month to drivers caught traveling faster than 100 mph. The huge number of violations creates a significant burden for the judicial system and the DMV, making the new automated camera program necessary for cracking down on offenders.
According to Assembly Bill 645, drivers who are caught speeding by the new automatic cameras will be fined $500 if they exceed 100 miles per hour. There are fines for lesser offenses, too. Exceeding the speed limit by 11-15 mph results in a $50 fine, 16-25 mph over the limit is $100, and speeding by 26 mph or more is $200. Los Angeles will have the largest deployment of automated speed cameras in California, but similar efforts are underway in San Francisco, San Jose, Glendale, Oakland, and Long Beach as well.
How automated speed cameras work
California’s automatic speed cameras will work similarly to red light cams. They detect when a vehicle is exceeding the posted speed limit and quickly capture the license plate numbers. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation has stated that warning notices will be put in place for the first 60 calendar days of the cameras being installed, giving local drivers ample time to become aware of the new system. Additionally, warnings will be issued to first-time offenders who are caught exceeding the speed limit by 11-15 mph by the cameras. Beyond those considerations, though, speeding drivers will begin receiving automatic fines once the cameras are in place throughout the city…