In San José, there has been a troubling increase in traffic fatalities over the past five years. 2022 was the deadliest year in modern history on our streets, with 65 deaths. Between 2018-2022, 33% of traffic fatalities in our city showed speeding as a contributing factor.

The National Transportation Safety Board, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Highway Administration, and the California Transportation Agency have all recommended using speed safety cameras to enforce speed limits. Speed cameras were authorized as an expenditure under the federal bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, speed cameras can reduce crashes on urban streets by 54%.

In New York City, as of December 2021, speeding at fixed camera locations had dropped, on average, 73%. Speeding in school zones reduced up to 63%.

Speed cameras will be installed at 33 locations citywide, with at least one in each City Council district.

Sites were selected based on crash history, especially where there were crashes that resulted from speeding, red light running, or failure to yield to pedestrians or bicyclists. We also focused on locations where data shows vehicles frequently exceed the speed limit by 10 mph or more.

Additional considerations included proximity to schools, parks, hospitals, and senior centers—areas where pedestrians need added protection. However, school zones were excluded due to state restrictions limiting when cameras can operate. Overall, camera placement was prioritized in areas where high speeds are most likely to result in serious or fatal crashes, helping to make San José’s streets safer for all.

If you exceed the speed limit by…	Your fine will be…
11-15 mph	$50
16-25 mph	$100
26 mph+	$200

If you are cited for driving 100 mph or more using a speed safety camera, your fee will be $500.

A repeat offender is someone who gets two or more tickets at the same camera location. Assembly Bill 645 requires the City to review each camera after 18 months. At that time, the City will look at violation data to see if the number of repeat offenders at that location has dropped by 20%.

Assembly Bill 645, which authorized the pilot program, established the fine amounts for tickets issued through speed safety cameras. These violations will not be reported to the DMV.

The law requires cities to start with robust engagement with local stakeholders. Those include racial equity, privacy protection, and economic justice organizations. These conversations will help inform where the cameras are placed. By law, speed safety cameras must be distributed across neighborhoods of all income levels, not clustered in one or a few neighborhoods.

The cameras will use still photography only (no video). Facial recognition technology is prohibited, and photos will only include the rear of the vehicle and its license plate.

Footage may only be retained for five days if no violation is issued, or 60 days if a violation is issued. It must be collected by the City/its contractor and may not be shared or used for any other purpose.

The law prohibits any data sharing with any other state or federal government agency or official, except as required by state or federal law, court order, or in response to a subpoena.

Revenue from speed safety camera citations will first be used to pay for the cost of running the program. Once those costs are covered, any additional revenue may only be used on traffic safety improvements. If certain cameras detect particularly high rates of speeding, those locations may be identified as appropriate locations for traffic safety improvements. Money must be allocated within three years of being collected. Citation revenue cannot be used by any other agency or for any other purpose.

Speed safety cameras capture a photo of the rear license plate only. The cameras will flash when taking a photo. They do not record video. Cameras are fixed in place and will only photograph license plates, not drivers or passengers. A DOT staff member will review each citation before it is issued and mailed. Data is stored confidentially, in compliance with the City of San José Data Use and Digital Privacy Policies. Data is not shared with any other agency, unless court ordered to do so.

 

Speed cameras will be installed on specific streets and set to the posted speed limit and will only activate when a vehicle is traveling 11+ mph. For example, if the posted speed limit is 30 miles per hour, the camera activates when someone is driving 41 or faster.

When triggered, the camera captures a photo of the rear license plate only. The Department of Transportation will mail a citation to the registered vehicle owner.

• The camera will flash when taking a photo.
• It does not record video.
• Cameras are fixed in place and will only photograph license plates, not drivers or passengers.
• A DOT staff member will review each citation before it is issued and mailed.
• Because the driver is not identified and no point is issued on their driver's license, the ticket is assigned to the vehicle, not the driver.

You can request a free review of your ticket within 30 days via online, by phone, by mail, or in person. If you still disagree with the outcome, you can ask for an administrative hearing. If you can’t afford to pay and meet income requirements, you may qualify for a payment plan, reduced fines, or community service instead. Proof of eligibility can include an EBT card, Medi-Cal card, or a recent pay stub.

A public outreach campaign began in early 2025 and will continue throughout the five-year pilot program. The city has created a website, presented at multiple town hall meetings, and met with neighborhood leadership groups, neighborhood associations and community groups. Once cameras are installed, the City will begin a multilingual campaign with signages throughout the city and social media advertisements across multiple platforms. Signs will be posted to alert drivers that speed safety cameras are in use in that area.

Speed limits on some safety corridors are being lowered or maintained in accordance with Assembly Bills 43 and 1938. These changes aim to ensure safe and consistent speeds on street segments with a history of serious crashes. New speed limit signs will be posted, giving drivers time to adjust before cameras are activated. Updated speed data will also be collected after the new limits are in place but prior to camera installation.

The City will collect speed and violation data from each camera and review it 18 months after citations begin. We’ll compare current speeds to earlier data to see if speeds and repeat violations have dropped. If not, we may move the camera or add traffic‑calming improvements. A full report on results, costs, and equity impacts will be shared on the City’s website at the end of the five‑year pilot.

The report will detail:

• The number of violations that cameras issued
• Changes in speed trends at the monitored locations
• Financial updates on program costs and revenue use
• An equity analysis as well as public feedback

You’ll be able to find that report on our website.

No. Tickets will not generate points against your driving record.

Speed Safety Cameras are inspected every 60 days by a vendor and tested yearly by an independent lab. The City reviews all records to ensure they meet state law.

Automated traffic safety cameras are a supplement to traditional policing, not a replacement. Police officers have many responsibilities competing with traffic enforcement, which is evident in the declining staffing of San Jose's Traffic Enforcement Unit over the past two decades. Cameras are a tool that helps enforce safe driving behavior without pulling police officers away from crimes and other emergencies.

Most of the cameras visible in the street in San Jose are used to trigger traffic signals and monitor the flow of traffic in real time. They are not used by the Department of Transportation to collect speed data and are the video is typically not recorded. Recently the San Jose Police Department established a Real-Time Intelligence Center which has access to the feed from approximately 1/3 of our traffic cameras and can use the data to track in-progress crimes and major events. Other cameras in the public right-of-way include detection projects at specific intersections and San Jose Police Department Automatic License Plate Reader cameras.