When San Francisco installed speed cameras at 33 locations in 2024, city officials said the goal was to encourage safer driving, not to generate a wave of tickets. But the numbers tell a striking story.
In 2024, San Francisco issued just over 26,000 traffic tickets total. In 2025, that number jumped to 122,000 — driven almost entirely by automated speed enforcement. In just five months after the cameras began issuing fines, they produced roughly 91,000 citations, dwarfing the approximately 20,000 issued by the San Francisco Police Department and 10,000 from red light cameras in an entire year.
Are the Cameras Working?
Early data from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency shows a 72% reduction in speeding at 15 of the camera locations after the devices were installed. SFMTA has said the agency expects citation numbers to decline over time as drivers adjust their behavior.
Monthly warning numbers did trend downward between September and December 2025, though actual ticket numbers stayed relatively flat during that period.
How the Program Rolled Out
SFMTA activated cameras gradually, starting in March 2024 and issuing only warnings for several months. Fines began in August 2024. There are 56 cameras across 33 locations throughout the city, placed on streets designated as high injury corridors, school zones, or roads with a documented history of sideshows.
First time offenders caught going 11 to 15 mph over the limit receive a warning rather than a citation. Repeat offenders in that speed range, or anyone going more than 15 mph over the limit on a first offense, receive a ticket.
Got an SF speed camera notice? Here is how to respond.
See SF optionsCamera Locations
Cameras are spread across the city, from Fulton Street and Lincoln Way in the west to The Embarcadero downtown, from Bay Street and Columbus Avenue in the north to Bayshore Boulevard and Geneva Avenue in the south. A full list of all 33 locations is available from SFMTA.
Can the Cameras Move?
Yes. By law, the cameras only need to meet one of three criteria: placement on a high injury street, in a school zone, or on a road with documented sideshows. That gives SFMTA significant flexibility to relocate cameras as conditions change.
The Bigger Picture
San Francisco's program is part of the AB 645 pilot that also includes Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, Glendale, and Long Beach. The pilot runs through January 1, 2032.
Traffic safety advocates credit speed cameras as one factor in San Francisco's record drop in traffic fatalities in 2025, alongside infrastructure improvements like protected bike lanes and bulbed curbs. However, some policymakers note that speed camera citations do not affect a driver's record and that motivated drivers can learn camera locations and slow down only in those areas.
Your Rights
Drivers who receive a speed camera citation can request an initial review at no cost, request an administrative hearing, or file an appeal to superior court with a $25 filing fee. California law requires cities to offer reduced fines for lower income individuals and diversion programs for indigent recipients.
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