Motorists in San Jose driving at least 11 miles per hour over posted speed limits will begin receiving warning notices on December 14. These notices stem from new speed-reading cameras being installed across the city. Two months after the warnings begin, vehicle owners caught speeding by these cameras will face citations ranging from $50 to $500.
The City of San Jose announced on October 23 that it is completing the installation of 33 speed cameras citywide. This five-year program, aimed at reducing traffic injuries and fatalities, is funded by a state grant and an $8.5 million federal grant through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. This federal funding will help cover program costs, allowing for reinvestment of any extra funds into "traffic calming" projects.
Mayor Matt Mahan stated, "Speeding is the leading cause of fatal crashes. These tools make sure drivers who break the law pay a price — before someone else pays for it with their life." City Manager Jennifer Maguire added that San Jose is committed to using every available tool to increase community safety, noting that "Every traffic fatality is an unimaginable tragedy for a family and our community. Speed safety cameras strengthen our enforcement capacity and reflect our responsibility to protect our community."
Vice Mayor Pam Foley, a proponent of speed safety cameras, welcomed the program's progress, calling it a "proven safety solution." Foley has advocated for these cameras to complement other safety improvements, believing that financial consequences will encourage drivers to slow down, advancing the city's vision of zero fatalities and severe injuries.
From 2021 through 2025, city data identified speeding as the primary cause of 5,313 vehicle crashes in San Jose, resulting in 265 severe injuries and 41 deaths. San Jose is one of six California cities authorized to pilot speed safety cameras under a law that took effect at the beginning of 2024. The program allows participating cities up to five years to test the technology and report on speed reductions and citations issued. Any revenues collected from these citations must be reinvested into the system or used for street safety improvements.
City officials noted that more than 350 communities in 26 U.S. states and the District of Columbia currently use cameras for speed control. Examples from other cities show positive impacts: San Francisco saw an 85% reduction in drivers traveling 10 miles per hour or more over the speed limit near camera locations within 18 months of starting its program. In Montgomery County, Maryland, speed safety cameras reduced the likelihood of incapacitating or fatal injuries by 39%.
Verra Mobility Solutions, Inc., which provides similar systems in other California cities including San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Glendale, and Long Beach, is the vendor for San Jose's speed safety camera system. The cameras are fixed in place and capture photos of rear license plates only; they flash when taking a photo but do not record video or photograph drivers or passengers.
Each citation undergoes review by a Department of Transportation member before being issued and mailed. All data is stored confidentially, adhering to the City of San José Data Use and Digital Privacy Policies, and will not be shared with any other agency except under court order. The city has until January 1, 2032, to implement the five-year pilot program, which was discussed at several town hall meetings in 2025 when the program was originally expected to begin.
