The Los Angeles speed camera delay means the city will not complete installation until at least late 2026, despite state law already allowing the program. According to LAist on the 11th, the rollout has been postponed by technical issues and site-selection problems. An engineer from the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) said, “We are currently testing operational and technical issues, and Los Angeles will likely fall behind other cities in implementing speed camera enforcement.”
The California State Assembly passed AB 645 in 2023, authorizing pilot programs in Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, Long Beach, and San Francisco. The law directs cameras to record license plates of speeding vehicles and issue fines by mail: $50 for 11–15 mph over the limit and $500 for speeds of 100 mph or more. The pilot expires on January 1, 2032.
Brett Slaughenhaupt, director of the nonprofit SAFE, said Los Angeles plans to install 125 cameras, but only 25% of the original target has been completed. Members of the Los Angeles City Council criticized the delay. Traci Park said, “It has been two years since installation was approved, and we are still just talking. I am extremely disappointed by these delays.”
Chris Rider of LADOT explained that the agency has monitored data across pilot cities over the past two years and clarified installation standards. A report submitted on the 10th to the Los Angeles City Council stated that cameras will first be placed near school zones and areas known for illegal street takeovers.
Police data show that last year 304 people in Los Angeles died in speeding-related crashes. LAist reported that a recent audit cited poor coordination among city departments, undermining the city’s stated goal of reducing traffic deaths to zero this year. The ongoing Los Angeles speed camera delay raises further questions about how quickly the city can act under AB 645.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
