Speed Cameras in San Francisco

Speed cameras in San Francisco

San Francisco operates California’s first automated speed enforcement pilot under AB 645. The SFMTA program launched on March 20, 2025, all cameras were issuing warnings by June 6, 2025, and civil citations began on August 5, 2025. The current SF speed cameras list contains 33 locations, and each listed site is marked as issuing violations.

The cameras enforce vehicles traveling at least 11 mph over the posted limit. SFMTA says the systems enforce both directions of travel unless the location is specifically listed as one direction only, such as eastbound King Street, northbound 3rd Street or southbound Bayshore Boulevard. SFMTA’s public flyer says the automated speed systems operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

San Francisco does not publish a separate average speed camera program. The speed camera pilot is a fixed-location program on city streets. The law allows cameras on high-injury streets, in school zones or on streets with a documented history of sideshows, but San Francisco says its 33 initial sites are all on the High Injury Network.

San Francisco speed camera locations and patterns

San Francisco speed camera locations are spread across the city rather than concentrated in one neighborhood. The west side includes Fulton Street, Lincoln Way, Geary Boulevard and Sloat Boulevard. Downtown, SoMa and nearby corridors include Turk Street, Mission Street, 7th Street, 9th Street, 10th Street, Harrison Street and Bryant Street.

Other clusters include the northeast and waterfront, with Bay Street, Franklin Street, Columbus Avenue, Broadway and the Embarcadero, plus southern corridors such as Cesar Chavez Street, 3rd Street, Bayshore Boulevard, Geneva Avenue, Alemany Boulevard, Ocean Avenue, San Jose Avenue and Monterey Boulevard. Posted limits at the 33 sites are mainly 20, 25 or 30 mph.

SFMTA says the sites were selected for safety reasons and are on the High Injury Network, the small share of city streets that account for most severe and fatal traffic injuries. Some corridors are near schools, parks, senior services or commercial districts, but there is no separate citywide school-zone camera-only program or work-zone speed camera program confirmed for San Francisco.

• 33 active speed camera locations
• 20, 25 and 30 mph posted limits at camera sites
• High Injury Network focus
• Some one-way enforcement segments

Red light cameras in San Francisco

Red light cameras in San Francisco are a separate program from the speed cameras. SFMTA manages the equipment with support from the San Francisco Police Department, the Superior Court and the City Attorney. The system enforces red-light running and some illegal turns, including the eastbound no-right-turn movement at Market Street and Octavia Boulevard.

SFMTA lists 19 enforced approaches at 13 intersections, including 6th and Bryant, 19th and Sloat, Fell and Masonic, Hayes and Polk, Oak and Octavia, 4th and Harrison, 6th and Folsom, 8th and Folsom, Divisadero and Bush, and Van Ness and Broadway. Six additional red light camera systems were under construction, with activation anticipated in summer 2026.

The red light system enters enforcement mode only after a signal cycles from yellow to red. SFMTA says drivers who enter on green or yellow and are already in the intersection when the signal changes are not photographed for that event. Red light cases are handled through the court system, not the SFMTA civil speed-camera process.

Tickets, fines, license impact and contesting

Speed camera notices are mailed automatically to the registered owner and are civil penalties, not criminal tickets. SFMTA says notices of violation are mailed within two weeks of the violation. The owner has 30 days from the issue date to pay, request a reduction or community service if eligible, or protest the notice.

Speed camera penalties are $50 for 11–15 mph over, $100 for 16–25 mph over, $200 for 26 mph or more over, and $500 for any vehicle traveling 100 mph or more. Low-income and public-benefits discounts may reduce those amounts. SFMTA’s FAQ says speed camera civil penalties do not add points to a driver’s license or driving record.

To protest a speeding ticket, SFMTA says not to pay first. The first step is an administrative review within 30 days of the issue date. If the driver disagrees with the result, a Level 2 hearing may be requested after the administrative review decision is mailed. Red light camera citations are different: SFMTA says a San Francisco Police Officer reviews and signs the citation, and the court sends the Notice to Appear by mail. California traffic-court guidance says running a red light can go on a DMV record and add a point if there is a conviction.

• Speed camera notices: SFMTA civil process
• Red light citations: court process
• Speed camera points: none
• Red light conviction: may add a point

Local speed limits and driving reminders

San Francisco has been lowering speeds on business activity districts, safety corridors and school streets. SFMTA reports many business corridors were reduced by 5 mph, often from 25 to 20 mph or from 30 to 25 mph. The city also uses 15 mph school zones where state law allows, 20 mph and 25 mph school-related limits, and 15 mph alleys where posted.

The practical rule is to read the posted sign on each block, because limits can change quickly between commercial streets, residential streets, school areas, hills, tunnels, boulevards and freeway ramps. Before a trip, drivers can plan routes and set non-distracting alerts in the Speed Camera Radar Detector app, but posted signs and current official notices control.