Cameras that can automatically send tickets to motorists who are speeding moved a big step closer to reaching city streets after the bill that would legalize such ticketing got state Assembly approval in late May by a wide margin.
Assembly Bill 645, authored by Assemblymember Laura Friedman, D-Glendale, authorizes “speed camera” pilot programs in school zones and on high-injury streets with speeding problems in five cities, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Glendale, Oakland and San Francisco.
Friedman’s bill was heavily backed in a 58-7 Assembly floor vote on May 31, and was introduced in the state Senate on June 1. The bill picked up both Democratic and Republican support.
The bill’s next hearing may be before the Senate Transportation Committee, but that had not yet been scheduled as of Friday, June 9, said Leoda Valenzuela, a spokesperson for Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.
If it goes to Senate Transportation, the bill must pass out of that committee by July 14 to stay alive. The bill requires approval of both houses and then a signature from Gov. Gavin Newsom to become law.
Speed cameras are illegal in California but are in use in many urban areas in other states. They have been credited with reducing the frequency of traffic collisions and decreasing traffic fatalities. Similar attempts at legalizing speed cameras have failed, but this time the bill was pared down to a pilot program for just five cities.
“I believe it is gaining momentum because, unfortunately, we’ve seen such a dramatic increase in deaths from traffic collisions involving speeding,” said Friedman on Friday, June 9.
Locally, supporters have been pushing for the bill to demonstrate what they believe would be an effective way to reverse the high death rates from traffic collisions, in California, including fatalities of pedestrians and bicyclists. Supporters include the Los Angeles City Council, the city’s Department of…
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