NEWS RELEASE: San José Announces Launch of Speed Safety Camera Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT
Colin Heyne, Public Information Manager, Transportation Department
408-975-3705; [email protected]

Tasha Dean, Chief Communications Officer, Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
510-612-6488; [email protected]

San José Announces Launch of Speed Safety Camera Program
Automated citations expected to calm traffic, prevent deadly crashes

SAN JOSE, Calif. (October 23, 2026) - Officials from the City of San José joined family members of children who had been struck and killed by drivers to announce that speed safety cameras will start issuing warning notices to drivers caught speeding by at least 11 miles per hour over the posted speed limit on December 14. Citations ranging from $50 to $500 will start being issued in early 2027.

"The City of San José is committed to deploying every tool available to increase community safety," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "Every traffic fatality is an unimaginable tragedy for a family and our community. Speed safety cameras strengthen our enforcement capacity and reflect our responsibility to protect our community."

"Speeding is the leading cause of fatal crashes," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "These tools make sure drivers who break the law pay a price - before someone else pays for it with their life."

Vice Mayor Pam Foley, who has long championed speed safety cameras, welcomed the progress.

"I'm very excited to see this proven safety solution finally come to San José," said Foley. "As the former chair of the Vision Zero Task Force, I have been advocating for speed cameras to complement our other safety improvements for years. When drivers know there's a financial consequence to speeding, they will slow down, bringing us closer to our vision of zero fatalities and severe injuries."

From 2021 through 2025, there were 5,313 crashes in San José with speeding as the primary cause. Those speeding crashes left 265 people severely injured and 41 dead.

"Speed kills, which we know all too well," said Elizabeth and Jorge Quiroz, whose daughter Aileen was only five years old when she was killed by a speeding driver while in a crosswalk in front of a school in San José. "We couldn't be more supportive of speed cameras on San José's streets. Speed cameras are a proven solution to prevent tragedies like the one that took our precious Aileen from us."

More than 350 communities in 26 U.S. states and the District of Columbia are using cameras to control speeding, to great effect. Just 18 months after San Francisco started using them, the city saw an 85% reduction in drivers traveling 10 miles an hour or more over the speed limit near camera locations. And in Montgomery County, Maryland, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found speed safety cameras reduced the likelihood of incapacitating or fatal injuries by 39%. Globally, the use of speed safety cameras has reduced fatalities or serious injuries from crashes by as much as 44%.

San José is one of six California cities authorized to pilot speed safety cameras through Assembly Bill 645. Under the bill, participating cities have up to five years to test the technology and report out on speed reduction, citations issued, and equity impacts. Any revenues collected through citations issued using the cameras must be reinvested in the system or go to street safety improvements.

The speed safety camera system vendor is Verra Mobility Solutions, Inc., which has provided similar systems in other California cities including San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Glendale, and Long Beach.

"We are proud to partner with the City of San José in advancing its commitment to safer streets and protecting the community," said TJ Tiedje, Vice President, Verra Mobility. "Speeding remains a significant threat to roadway safety, and automated speed enforcement is a proven approach to encourage responsible driving and reduce crashes. Through this partnership, we look forward to supporting the City's safety goals, driving meaningful behavior change, and helping create safer roads for everyone who lives, works, and travels in San José."

Learn more about San José's Speed Safety Camera Program at https://bit.ly/sj-speed-cameras.

About the City of San José
With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California's largest city and the 13th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.

About the Department of Transportation
The San José Department of Transportation equitably serves our diverse community and enhances quality of life by planning and operating safe transportation systems, promoting sustainable transportation choices, and maintaining resilient infrastructure.

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