LA starts 60-day warning period for new cameras

Los Angeles turned on its first batch of automated speed cameras on Monday.

The system targets vehicles moving 11 miles per hour above the posted limit. Cameras capture rear license plates only, leaving driver and passenger faces out of the frame.

Officials cite speeding as the leading cause of crashes on city streets. The program currently operates at four specific intersections: La Brea Avenue and First Street, Fairfax Avenue and Clinton Street, Melrose Avenue and Hayworth Avenue, and La Cienega Boulevard and Pico Boulevard.

For the next 60 days, violators will receive warning notices by mail. Once that window closes, civil penalties apply. Drivers exceeding the limit by 11 to 15 miles per hour will pay $50. Fines scale up with speed, reaching a maximum of $500 for the most egregious violations.

These penalties differ from traditional traffic tickets. They do not add points to a driver's Department of Motor Vehicles record. The city plans to install a total of 125 cameras by the end of the year. The deployment focuses on areas near schools and roads with high crash histories, marking the start of a five-year pilot.

LaKayla Keenan, a salon owner near one of the camera sites, said she sees frequent speeding and collisions in her neighborhood. She expressed support for the effort but noted she is unsure if it will change behavior immediately. "Maybe when people start to catch on to it, they might start slowing down," Keenan said.