Los Angeles is preparing to flip the switch on a new era of traffic enforcement, one in which cameras, not patrol cars, will clock drivers and trigger fines in near real time. Backed by a California pilot program, the city’s automated speed system is designed to issue penalties almost as soon as a driver is caught going too fast, with escalating consequences for repeat or extreme violations. Supporters frame the move as a long overdue safety upgrade on some of the country’s deadliest streets, while critics warn of due process concerns, privacy risks, and the potential for disproportionate impacts on lower income residents.
The rollout places Los Angeles at the center of a broader shift in California traffic policy, as state leaders lean on automation to slow drivers without relying solely on traditional stops. With mailed civil tickets, tiered fines, and even possible license suspensions tied to camera data, the program will test whether technology can curb dangerous speeding without eroding public trust.
How California’s pilot opened the door for LA’s cameras
The legal foundation for Los Angeles’ new system rests on Assembly Bill 645, a state measure that authorized a limited group of cities to deploy automated speed enforcement as a pilot. AB 645, often referred to simply as 645, cleared the way for cameras to be installed on city streets and for citations to be issued based on those images rather than an officer’s roadside stop. State transportation officials describe the initiative as part of a broader effort to reduce severe crashes by targeting the kind of high speed driving that makes collisions far more likely to be fatal.
California Speed Camera Laws guidance notes that under this framework, several Active Cities, including San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, already have systems operating, with Los Angeles scheduled to launch in Fall 2026. The state’s own Speed Safety System timeline shows that 645 was signed into law in October 2023, followed by Planning and project approvals in 2024 and Early 2025 Development of the technology and procedures. That staged approach is meant to give local agencies time to select locations, test equipment, and set up back end processing before any tickets are mailed.
What “instant” automated enforcement will look like on LA streets
City transportation officials describe the new program as a Speed Safety System that will rely on fixed cameras to measure how fast vehicles are traveling at specific points, then automatically flag those that exceed posted limits by a set threshold. According to state level explanations of the broader rollout, California will begin issuing mailed civil tickets using red light and speed cameras under new laws that take effect Starting January 1, 2026, with Los Angeles among the first Cities to participate. Rather than waiting for an officer to write a citation, the system will capture the violation, match it to a vehicle’s registration, and generate a notice that arrives at the owner’s address…