Legislation allowing Long Beach to install two speed cameras along Pacific Coast Highway has been signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, state Sen. Lena Gonzalez’s office announced Monday.
Senate Bill 1279, authored by Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, was signed by Newsom Sunday and will take effect Jan. 1, 2027. It adds the Long Beach portion of PCH to California’s speed safety camera pilot program.
Long Beach is already among six California cities authorized to use automated speed cameras under the pilot program, but existing law did not allow cameras to be installed along PCH.
The new law will allow the city to place two additional cameras along PCH, beyond the 18 cameras already authorized elsewhere in the city.
“Last year, Long Beach saw 53 fatal traffic collisions — the highest number in more than a decade,” Gonzalez said.
“As a city and a state, it is our responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure people feel safe walking their children to school, biking to work, and running a small business on a main street without worrying about a car crashing through the front door. I am grateful that Governor Newsom has signed SB 1279 into law, giving Long Beach another tool it needs to address the safety emergency on our streets.”
Gonzalez’s office previously said the 8-mile stretch of PCH through Long Beach accounted for 39 of the city’s 192 traffic fatalities since 2020. The senator’s office said Monday that PCH accounts for 20% of the city’s crash fatalities and that three traffic fatalities have occurred along the highway this year.
“SB 1279 is about giving Long Beach another tool to make our streets safer and prevent traffic deaths, particularly along the Pacific Coast Highway where dangerous speeding has had devastating consequences,” Long Beach City Councilwoman Suely Saro said. “As a Councilmember who represents a significant portion of the PCH corridor, I am proud to support a pilot program that can help change driver behavior and ultimately save lives while respecting the privacy of our community.”
Under the state’s speed camera pilot program, cameras are activated for vehicles traveling at least 11 mph above the posted speed limit and are limited to photographing rear license plates. The senator’s office said images collected through Long Beach’s program will be shared only with the city’s Department of Public Works, not law enforcement.
A first violation for driving 11 to 15 mph above the posted speed limit results in a warning. Subsequent violations carry a $50 penalty for driving 11 to 15 mph over the limit, $100 for 16 to 25 mph over the limit and $200 for driving at least 26 mph over the limit. A $500 penalty applies for speeds of 100 mph or more.
The program also requires participating cities to offer community service or educational programs instead of fines for qualifying low-income motorists, along with reduced fines and payment plans under certain circumstances.
Revenue generated by Long Beach’s program must be used for traffic safety measures, according to Gonzalez’s office.
The senator’s office said Oakland has recorded a 70% decrease in speeding and San Francisco a 79% decrease following implementation of speed cameras.