The city of San Francisco has an expensive plan to combat excessive speeding
Nowadays, officials have several tools to help keep roads safe that don’t involve police traffic stops. Traffic cams are one of those methods, and several cities around the country are using them to catch traffic infractions. Now, San Francisco is adding them in order to help combat people ignoring the speed limit. Additionally, the city has released the amount it will charge for infractions.
San Francisco has a plan in addition to traffic stops to enforce speed limits
Naturally, police traffic stops are among the most common ways cities enforce speed limits. However, police officers have other crimes to deal with, so traffic cams are becoming a popular option. According to SFMTA, San Francisco will soon begin its pilot program to implement cameras around the city. Starting in February 2025, officials will monitor speeds with the devices in 33 areas around the city.
This pilot program comes one year after Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 645, which gave San Francisco and other cities permission to test these traffic cams. Viktoriya Wise, the streets director for the SFMTA, said, “We are thrilled to have reached a significant milestone in bringing speed safety cameras to San Francisco’s streets.”
She continued, “Speeding is the leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities in San Francisco. That’s why we’ve moved swiftly to be the first city in California to introduce this life-saving tool proven to reduce speeding and protect lives.”
They will begin installing these traffic cams to catch people speeding in December. Specifically, they will be located near schools, parks, senior centers, and commercial districts. As many cities have done, drivers will have a 60-day warning period before fines begin. Of course, the citations won’t be cheap.
Traffic cam fines for speeding in San Franciso
- People going 11-15 MPH over the limit: $50
- People going 16-25 MPH over the limit: $100
- People going 26+ MPH over the limit: $200
- People going 100 MPH over the limit: $500
Traffic cams have proven successful in several cities in keeping people safe on the road. Because of this, many see them as a viable part of traffic enforcement’s future. Notably, this process isn’t cheap for cities, as some have spent around $3,000 per camera.
