California Is Expanding Speed Cameras to Highway Work Zones — What Drivers Need to Know in 2026
California drivers are about to encounter a quiet but consequential change on the road: automated speed enforcement is expanding beyond city streets and into highway construction zones statewide. The new law went into effect in January of 2026, speed cameras are being used in active Caltrans work zones under a new law designed to protect road crews and reduce deadly crashes.
The expansion reflects a broader shift in California’s traffic safety strategy—one that relies less on traffic stops and more on technology to prevent dangerous behavior before it turns fatal.
The legal foundation began in 2023 with Assembly Bill 645, which launched a five-year pilot allowing speed cameras in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, and Long Beach, primarily near schools and high-injury corridors. In 2025, lawmakers expanded the approach through Assembly Bill 289, authorizing Caltrans to deploy speed cameras in highway work zones statewide.
According to Caltrans safety data, work zones remain among the most dangerous areas on California roads. Speeding is consistently identified as the leading factor in crashes involving construction crews—many of whom work just feet from live traffic.
“Reducing speed, even slightly, significantly lowers the risk of severe injury or death in work zones,” Caltrans officials have stated in public safety briefings.
The cameras operate only in clearly marked zones. Drivers receive mailed citations if their vehicle is recorded traveling 11 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit, following an initial warning period. No traffic stop is involved.
State law includes strict privacy protections: images are limited to license plates, personal data retention is restricted, and footage cannot be used for unrelated surveillance.
Fines start lower than traditional speeding tickets and may be income-adjusted, a policy structure lawmakers say is meant to change behavior without creating excessive financial harm. Revenue must be reinvested in traffic safety and road improvements.
What Drivers Should Know
-
Look for signs: Speed cameras can only be used where automated enforcement is clearly posted.
-
Applies in work zones: Caltrans cameras are limited to active highway construction areas.
-
Tickets are mailed: No police stop is required; citations go to the registered vehicle owner.
-
Threshold matters: Enforcement begins at 11 mph over the limit, not minor fluctuations.
-
Warnings come first: Many locations begin with warning notices before issuing fines.
-
Privacy rules apply: Images cannot be used beyond speed enforcement.
Why This Matters for California Communities
Latino workers are disproportionately represented in construction and transportation jobs, according to U.S. labor data. Safety advocates say automated enforcement helps protect workers without increasing roadside encounters that can escalate or create fear.
Organizations including AAA and the National Safety Council have supported speed-camera programs when paired with transparency and clear rules, citing evidence of sustained reductions in speeding and injuries.
For drivers, the takeaway is simple: slow down where people are working. For California, the rollout signals a long-term shift toward prevention-focused enforcement—one officials believe can save lives without expanding police stops.
Cameras on California Roads Could help with pedestrians deaths
