How to Contest a Speed Camera Ticket in California

This guide covers the contest steps for an AB 645 notice: the free initial review, the administrative hearing and the court appeal, with the deadline for each. For what an AB 645 notice is and your options, start with the speed camera ticket page.

All your options on one page: California Speed Camera Tickets: What to Do →

What Should You Know About Your Speed Camera Notice?

When you receive a speed camera notice under California’s AB 645 program, the first step is to carefully review all of the information included. The notice should contain the date, time, and location of the alleged violation, the recorded speed compared to the posted speed limit, photographs of your vehicle, and the fine amount.

Take note of the deadline for responding. You have 30 calendar days from the date the notice was mailed to pay or to request a free initial review (Vehicle Code 22426(e)(4), 22427(a)). The same rule applies in all six AB 645 cities. Missing the deadline could limit your options for contesting the citation.

Review the photographs carefully. The images should clearly show your vehicle, its license plate, and ideally the location where the alleged violation occurred. If the images are unclear or you do not recognize the vehicle, this may be relevant to your contest.

How Do You Contest a Speed Camera Ticket in California?

Contesting a speed camera ticket under AB 645 follows an administrative review process rather than the traditional traffic court system. The specific steps may vary slightly depending on which city issued the notice, but the general process is similar across participating jurisdictions.

1. Review the notice carefully, noting the deadline, fine amount, and violation details.
2. Gather any evidence that supports your contest, such as photographs, vehicle records, or witness statements.
3. Request the free initial review from the issuing agency within 30 calendar days of the mailing date, by telephone, in writing, electronically or in person (Vehicle Code 22427(a)). Follow the method on your notice.
4. If you want, add a short written explanation of why you believe the citation was issued in error, with any evidence. This is optional.
5. Wait for the result. The agency must mail it within 60 days of receiving your request (Vehicle Code 22427(a)).

What Are Common Grounds to Contest a Speed Camera Ticket?

There are several grounds that drivers may raise when contesting a speed camera ticket. How much weight each one carries depends on the specific facts of your situation. Consider consulting with a licensed attorney to evaluate which arguments may apply to your case.

• The images do not clearly identify your vehicle or its license plate.
• The speed camera was not properly calibrated or maintained.
• Signage warning of the speed camera was missing, obscured, or inadequate.
• The vehicle was rented, leased or stolen at the time (this goes on the affidavit of nonliability, described below).
• There were emergency circumstances that required you to exceed the speed limit.
• The posted speed limit signage was missing or unclear at the location.

Keep in mind that not every argument carries the same weight. Factual points, such as showing that the camera misidentified your vehicle or its plate, tend to be stronger than general objections to the speed camera program itself.

What Is an Affidavit of Nonliability?

An affidavit of nonliability comes with every AB 645 notice. It is not a way to say someone else was driving: the notice is issued to the registered owner (Vehicle Code 22426(b)), and the affidavit covers two situations. If the vehicle was rented or leased from a rental company or through a personal vehicle sharing program, return it with the written agreement, and the city mails the notice to the renter. If the vehicle was stolen, return it with a copy of the police report, and the city does not hold the owner responsible.

Either way, the affidavit must reach the processing agency within 30 calendar days of the date the notice was mailed (Vehicle Code 22426(e)(6)). A vehicle you sold and reported to the DMV before the violation date is handled separately (Vehicle Code 5602), and some cities describe a process for it, so review the instructions included with your notice carefully.

Learn more about the affidavit of nonliability process. Affidavit of Nonliability in California →

What Are the Deadlines for Contesting a Speed Camera Ticket?

Paying attention to deadlines is critical when contesting a speed camera ticket. Your notice will include a response deadline, and failing to act before that date could result in additional penalties or a loss of your right to contest.

After you submit your request for administrative review, the reviewing authority typically has a set period to issue a decision. Under Vehicle Code 22427(a), the city must mail the results of an initial review within 60 days, and a denial must explain how to request an administrative hearing.

If the initial review does not cancel the notice, there are two more steps. You can request an administrative hearing within 21 calendar days after the review result is mailed. To request one you must pay the penalty first, unless the city accepts proof that you cannot pay (Vehicle Code 22427(b)). You can appeal the hearing decision to superior court within 30 days after it is delivered or mailed (Vehicle Code 22428(a)).

Understand the full AB 645 administrative review process. AB 645 Administrative Review Process →