San Francisco, California – The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) began issuing citations from its new automated speed camera program on August 5, 2025, marking a significant shift in traffic enforcement that includes a controversial two-tiered fee system. The program, authorized by Assembly Bill 645, launched its first cameras on March 20, 2025, with a 60-day warning period before fines commenced. The initiative aims to reduce speeding and enhance safety on the city's high-injury corridors and school zones.
The new system has drawn criticism for its income-based fine structure, which allows low-income violators a 50% discount on penalties. Richie Greenberg, a local commentator, highlighted this aspect in a recent tweet, stating, "It’s a two-tiered fee system. Violators get a 50% discount if they are 'low income'." This policy means that individuals with a gross annual income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for reduced fines, with some reports indicating up to an 80% discount for indigent or homeless individuals.
Critics argue that this sliding scale creates an inequitable "justice system" where penalties are not solely based on the severity of the offense but also on a driver's financial status. Fines for speeding violations range from $50 to $500, depending on the speed over the limit. The SFMTA maintains that the program's primary goal is to change driver behavior and improve road safety, not primarily to generate revenue.
Another point of contention raised by Greenberg's tweet is the challenge posed by vehicles with obscured or fake license plates. He noted, "And no fee assessed if they have no plate or fake plates." While SFMTA's cameras are designed to capture rear license plates, and staff manually review images to validate citations, the effectiveness of enforcement is dependent on readable plates. If a license plate is unreadable or non-existent, the automated system cannot issue a citation, effectively preventing a fine from being assessed.
The SFMTA has installed 33 speed cameras across the city, primarily in areas with high rates of traffic-related injuries and fatalities. Data from the warning period, which saw hundreds of thousands of violations, indicated that the presence of the cameras alone began to influence driver behavior. Any revenue generated beyond program recovery costs will be allocated to further traffic calming measures and safety improvements within the city.