Brief

Council File 26-0600-S100 seeks to establish a dedicated special fund for Los Angeles's automated speed enforcement program, which uses cameras to detect speeding violations. Introduced in June 2026, the proposal was referred to both the Transportation and Budget and Finance committees. The Transportation Committee approved the item on September 16, 2026, and transmitted it to Budget and Finance Committee for final budget consideration. The file remains pending in both committees.

Full summary

This Council file addresses the financial infrastructure for Los Angeles's Speed Safety System Pilot Program, authorized under California AB 645, which allows six cities statewide to operate automated speed enforcement cameras. Rather than establishing the program itself — Council approved 125 camera locations in March 2026 and contracted with Verra Mobility in June 2026 to operate the system — this file focuses on how fine revenue will be collected, held, and spent. The Department of Transportation, led by General Manager Laura Rubio-Cornejo, recommends amending the existing Traffic Safety Fund ordinance (Ordinance No. 92382) rather than creating an entirely new fund, and designating LADOT as its administrator. The proposed ordinance changes would do three things: authorize the Traffic Safety Fund to receive speed camera citation revenues (currently the fund is limited to revenues from misdemeanor vehicle code arrests); codify allowable uses of those revenues in line with AB 645 requirements; and transfer fund administration to LADOT. The Controller's Office has separately recommended creating a new revenue source code to track camera-based citations distinctly from parking and court fines. Critically, AB 645 restricts how the money can be used: revenues must first cover program costs — equipment, operations, adjudication, reporting, and required traffic-calming measures — and any surplus may only be spent on nearby street-safety improvements such as speed humps, raised crosswalks, and protected pedestrian crossings. Surplus funds not spent within three years revert to the State's Active Transportation Program. The law also bars using camera revenues to backfill General Fund obligations or reduce baseline traffic-safety spending. The speed cameras will issue civil citations for driving 11 mph or more over the posted limit, on a sliding scale from $50 for 11-15 mph over to $500 for 100 mph or more. All 125 camera locations are to enter a 60-day warning-only phase by January 2027, with revenue-generating citations potentially beginning as early as October 31, 2026. The Transportation Committee approved the file on September 16, 2026, and transmitted it to the Budget and Finance Committee, where it now sits pending review. No action has yet been taken by the full Council. Once Budget and Finance acts, the Council would need to direct the City Attorney to draft and adopt the amending ordinance. The file does not expire until September 2028.

Activity (6)

• 2026-09-16 Transportation Committee transmitted Council File to Budget and Finance Committee.
• 2026-09-16 Transportation Committee approved item(s) .
• 2026-09-11 Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 16, 2026.
• 2026-08-03 Department of Transportation document(s) referred to Transportation Committee.
• 2026-07-31 Document submitted by Department of Transportation, dated July 31, 2026.
• 2026-07-08 Council document(s) referred to Budget and Finance Committee; Transportation Committee.

Documents (4)

• 2026-09-16 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2026-09-16 Transmittal Letter · transmittal
• 2026-07-31 Report from Department of Transportation · report
• 2026-06-24 Budget Recommendation · other