L.A. to install 125 speed cameras on crash-prone streets across the city

LA speed cameras will soon appear along major roads across the city, including Koreatown, as officials move forward with a long-delayed traffic safety initiative.

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) on February 10 released a list of pilot locations and opened a public comment period. The city plans to begin a trial run this summer and launch full enforcement after July.

According to LADOT, a total of 125 cameras will be installed citywide under the “Speed Safety System” pilot program.

High-Crash Corridors Targeted by LA Speed Cameras

In City Council District 10, which includes Koreatown, nine locations have been selected. All are areas with frequent speed-related crashes. For example, cameras will be installed along West Sixth Street between South Berendo Street and Vermont Avenue. In addition, a segment of Olympic Boulevard between Irolo Street and Fedora Street is included. Most of the selected corridors are near schools.

LADOT said it prioritized 550 miles of major arterial roads classified as high-risk for traffic collisions. The agency also selected corridors where speeding has been identified as a primary crash factor. Therefore, wide streets with multiple lanes, areas near schools and senior centers, crosswalk zones and locations known for illegal street racing were included.

The enforcement program will roll out in phases. Before activation, the city will conduct at least 60 days of public outreach. After installation, another 60-day warning period will follow, during which drivers will receive citations without fines. However, once full enforcement begins, drivers exceeding the speed limit by 11 miles per hour or more will face penalties.

Fines will start at $50. The violations will not carry criminal charges or points on a driver’s record. In addition, installment payment options and alternative programs will be available for low-income drivers, as required by law. Cameras will capture only rear license plates. Facial recognition and personal data sharing are prohibited.

Unlike red-light cameras, the devices will be placed mid-block rather than at intersections. Streetlight poles will be used for installation. Officials said cameras will be distributed relatively evenly across the city’s 15 council districts. The pilot program will operate for five years. Afterward, LADOT will submit a report to the City Council evaluating safety outcomes and economic impacts.

Rising Traffic Deaths Spur Action

The program stems from Assembly Bill 645, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2023. Despite multiple traffic safety policies, fatalities in Los Angeles have remained high.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), 290 people died in traffic collisions last year. More than 150 were pedestrians. That figure exceeded the number of homicide victims by roughly 60. Speeding remains one of the leading causes of traffic deaths. City data show that one in five fatal crashes in 2024 involved speeding.

Los Angeles adopted its Vision Zero policy in 2015, aiming to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025. Although fatalities fell 6% last year compared with the previous year, the city has not met its goal.

However, critics note that implementation stalled for years after AB 645 passed, citing system issues and site selection debates. Detailed location information is available on the LADOT website.

BY HANKIL KANG   [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]