18 speed safety camera systems proposed to be implemented in Oakland, expected to operate in fall/winter/2025

OAKLAND — The City of Oakland is in the process of implementing the State Assembly Bill (AB) 645 to install speed safety cameras at 18 locations citywide to enhance traffic safety. The new system is expected to be unveiled during fall or winter in 2025.

Oakland is one of the six cities in California to be authorized by AB 645 to use automated speeding cameras as a pilot program in response to the rising fatal traffic crashes.

AB 645 allows Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose, three largest metro cities in the Bay Area, to implement a speed detection system, while Los Angeles, Glendale, and Long Beach are three cities from Southern California to be covered by the legislation which aims to eliminate fatalities and injuries related to speeding behavior of drivers.

"Every week, two Oaklanders are killed or seriously injured by traffic violence. These crashes disproportionately impact BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities, seniors, children, and people with disabilities," the City of Oakland wrote online to announce the details of the implementation of AB 645.

"Automated speed enforcement has proven highly effective at preventing traffic deaths and injuries in cities across the United States and around the world," the City of Oakland added.

Under AB 645, Oakland is permitted a total of 18 safety systems, which will be administered by the City's Department of Transportation (OakDOT).

Oakland has announced the proposed 18 locations including one location in Oakland Chinatown, 7th Street between Broadway and Franklin Streets.

Drivers will be warned of using speed safety systems with signage at camera locations to reach a goal of making the streets safer and encouraging people to slow down.

According to the timeline released by the City of Oakland, the legislation of installing the automated speed cameras will be adopted and the camera vendor contract will be awarded during spring and summer of 2025.

It is estimated the cameras will be in operation starting fall or winter in 2025. The new system will issue warnings for the first 60 days rather than citations with fines.

After 60 days, the new automated speed camera system will issue citations which are non-moving violations, meaning no points on driver licenses or impacts to insurance.

One of the advantages of AB 645 is removing interactions between police officers and drivers at traffic stops that have the potential to escalate, according to the City of Oakland.

AB 645 only authorizes the use of photographs (no video) that capture only the rear of the license plates, not the windshield or face of drivers and prohibits the use of facial recognition technology.

Footage may only be retained for 5 days if no violation is issued, 60 days if a violation is issued. In the meantime, footage must be collected by the Oakland Department of Transportation and may not be shared or used for any other purposes or agencies.

Oakland Department of Transportation identified 18 locations utilizing the City's recently updated 2024 High-Injury Network data, the 8% of Oakland’s streets that account for 60% of severe and fatal collisions in Oakland.

Before narrowing down to 18 proposed locations, Oakland Department of Transportation collected data on vehicle speeds at over 40 locations. Those 18 locations are prioritized areas with the most documented speeding and sensitive land uses which include schools, senior centers, and commercial districts.