San José has launched its automated speed safety camera program, aimed at reducing the city’s leading cause of traffic accidents and fatalities, Mayor Matt Mahan announced Friday. Starting December 14, the cameras will issue warnings to vehicles traveling 11 mph or more over the speed limit. While each vehicle will receive one courtesy warning for its first violation, the program is slated to begin issuing citations, starting at $50, generally 60 days after the warning period begins. However, under state law, San José’s speed cameras are set to begin issuing citations on Feb. 12, 2027. The program will deploy cameras at 33 locations across the city, with each of San José’s 10 City Council districts hosting at least one site.
Mayor Mahan stated that speeding is the primary cause of traffic deaths in San José, noting that the city has recorded 41 traffic-related deaths this year, a decrease from 65 in 2022. He emphasized that more individuals die from traffic accidents than from homicides in San José, calling the program a step toward enhancing community safety. Locations for the cameras were selected based on past crash history, including areas with collisions due to speeding, red light running, or failure to yield to pedestrians or bicyclists. Proximity to sites like hospitals and senior centers also factored into the selection.
San José is the last Bay Area city to implement AB 645, a state law passed in 2023. This law authorized six California cities, including San Francisco, Oakland, Long Beach, Glendale, and Los Angeles, to pilot automated speed enforcement for five years or until January 1, 2032. The city initially intended to be the first to launch the pilot but faced delays. An $8.5 million grant previously awarded to the city by the Trump administration to cover program costs was withheld, forcing San José to secure funding from local revenue. The program is estimated to cost between $15.4 million and $17.9 million to install, operate, and maintain over its five-year pilot period.
Jorge Quiroz, whose 5-year-old daughter Aileen was killed by a speeding driver in 2013, spoke about the program, noting that he and his wife Elizabeth spent five years advocating for a speed camera pilot. Quiroz stated the goal is not to punish drivers but to change driving culture and prevent tragedies. He views the cameras as a "saving life tool."
Mayor Mahan clarified that the speed cameras are not surveillance cameras. He stated they do not use facial recognition, do not capture images of people, and do not identify vehicle occupants. The cameras will only capture a vehicle’s rear license plate. Data from the cameras will be deleted within five days if no infraction is issued, and within 60 days if an infraction occurs. The city maintains sole control over the encrypted data and cannot share it with other government entities unless directed by a court order. This differs from other systems in use, such as the nearly 500 automated license plate readers operated by Flock Safety, which also record vehicle characteristics. San José also operates four red-light cameras under a separate program, addressing red-light running, identified as the second-highest contributing factor to traffic deaths and severe injuries in the city.
Other California cities that have implemented similar programs under AB 645 have reported significant reductions in speeding. In San Francisco, where ticketing began in August 2025, a report on the first 18 months showed that the share of drivers traveling more than 10 mph over the speed limit dropped by nearly 84% at camera locations compared to pre-implementation levels. Additionally, 63% of cited vehicles did not receive a second warning or citation, according to Viktoriya Wise, director of streets at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Oakland, which started ticketing in March 2026, reported a 70% reduction in drivers traveling 11 mph or more over the speed limit at its camera locations within the first six months, with one site seeing a 91% reduction.
Street safety advocacy groups, including Walk San Francisco, are now advocating for new state legislation to expand the program to more cities. Marta Lindsey, communications director for Walk San Francisco, noted that over a dozen California cities are interested in implementing similar speed camera programs.
San José has contracted Verra Mobility Services, an Arizona-based company, to provide technical support and process citations. This company holds similar contracts for San Francisco’s and Oakland’s programs. Citations generated by automated speed cameras are classified as civil penalties and do not result in points against a driver’s record. Revenue generated from these citations will first cover the program’s operational costs, with any surplus revenue mandated by AB 645 to be used solely for traffic safety improvements. Quiroz acknowledged that while speed cameras are not a complete solution, they are an important tool that “will help save lives.” Safe streets advocates in Oakland also suggest that while cameras are a good step, cities should continue to focus on other measures like redesigning roads to encourage slower speeds and better protect pedestrians and cyclists.
