Car on the Route 95 for Mark Reynolds story on speeding.
San Francisco, California – San Francisco has launched a new speed enforcement program that will fine drivers based on their income, an initiative backed by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Speed Safety System Pilot Program, signed into law in October 2023, allows cities across the state to use automated speed cameras to issue citations, with significant discounts available for low-income individuals.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) officially introduced the program on March 20, installing 33 speed cameras throughout the city. However, only about half of them are currently operational. For the first 60 days, drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 11 mph will receive warnings before citations begin.
Under the program, speeding violations will range from $50 to $500, but individuals who meet income-based criteria will receive substantial discounts. Those with household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level will be eligible for a 50% reduction in fines, while indigent individuals, including the homeless, can receive an 80% discounton their ticket.
The goal, according to city officials, is to ensure the program does not disproportionately burden lower-income residents while still promoting road safety. It’s not entirely clear how the city of San Francisco will determine the income of a particular driver.
Speed cameras have been strategically placed in areas deemed “high-injury” zones—specific streets where 12% of San Francisco’s roadways account for 68% of severe traffic-related injuries and fatalities. Officials say this placement ensures the program effectively reduces dangerous driving behaviors where they are most prevalent.
A fact sheet for the program states that cameras were placed “in an equitable fashion” to prevent unfairly targeting certain neighborhoods. “The program is intended to benefit all communities and not single out any particular neighborhood,” the document reads.
San Francisco is the first California city to implement this type of program, but others are expected to follow. Los Angeles has announced plans to roll out a similar system in 2026, offering an alternative option for low-income individuals to perform community service instead of paying fines.
As the San Francisco pilot program progresses, city officials will analyze its effectiveness in reducing speeding and traffic-related injuries. If successful, it could serve as a model for other cities across the state and the country.
