California Traffic Camera Bill Clears Committee

A California state bill that would create a speed camera pilot program in six cities took a major step when it cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee, which it failed to do on several prior attempts. Now, as Melanie Curry reports in Streetsblog California, Assembly Bill 645 will go on to the full Assembly for a vote. If approved, it will move to the state Senate.

Automated traffic enforcement is a contentious topic, drawing criticism from a wide spectrum of opponents. Some groups, like the Western States Trucking Association, argue that the California bill is too vague and could impose hardships on low-income drivers, “despite the bills’ provisions for lower fines and multiple alternative arrangements for the fines.” Others, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), raise concerns about privacy and disparate impacts on people of color, despite claims from supporters that cameras can reduce the potential for violent interactions with law enforcement.

Studies have repeatedly shown that traffic cameras help reduce average speeds and improve safety on dangerous roads.