California Bill Eyes Red-Light Camera Overhaul with Major Changes to Fines and Enforcement
California lawmakers are preparing to overhaul the state’s red-light camera system with Senate Bill 720 (SB 720), a proposal that would change how tickets are issued, how much drivers pay, and where fine revenue is directed. The measure, introduced by Senator Angelique Ashby of Sacramento, has already passed both houses of the Legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature.
For nearly three decades, California required photographic proof of a driver’s face to issue a red-light camera citation. This approach made enforcement costly and often ineffective, forcing cities to abandon their programs. Sacramento County, for example, once issued more than 14,000 tickets annually but shut down its cameras in 2025 after collection costs outweighed the benefits. SB 720 seeks to fix these shortcomings by modernizing enforcement and treating red-light camera violations more like parking infractions than moving violations.
One of the most significant changes under SB 720 is the elimination of the driver-identification requirement. Instead of a face photo, a clear license plate image will be enough to issue a ticket. This simplifies the process for local governments and reduces disputes in court. The bill also caps fines at a flat $100 for each violation, replacing the current system where surcharges often push total costs to nearly $500. Unlike traditional traffic violations, red-light camera tickets under the new system would not add points to a driver’s record or increase insurance rates, easing financial strain on motorists.
Revenue from these citations would no longer disappear into a city’s general fund. Instead, all proceeds must be reinvested in traffic safety projects such as crosswalk improvements, bike lanes, and traffic-calming measures in high-injury corridors. The bill also strengthens privacy protections by prohibiting data from being shared with law enforcement without a court order. To address fairness concerns, SB 720 includes provisions for income-based fine reductions to prevent disproportionate impacts on low-income drivers.
The legislation also tackles one of the most controversial aspects of red-light cameras: yellow-light timing. Critics have long argued that some cities shortened yellow intervals to trap drivers and maximize revenue. SB 720 explicitly prohibits shortening yellow-light durations at intersections with cameras, ensuring that enforcement prioritizes safety rather than revenue. This safeguard is designed to build public trust and prevent “gotcha” tickets.
The proposed overhaul is part of a broader trend in California toward automated, civil enforcement of traffic laws. In 2023, Assembly Bill 645 authorized speed cameras in six cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland. San Francisco began issuing real tickets in 2025 after a pilot grace period, with citations treated as civil penalties that carry no DMV points. Another proposal, Assembly Bill 289, would allow speed cameras in highway work zones when crews are present. Together, these measures mark a shift away from punitive driver-identification enforcement and toward automated systems that issue owner-based penalties.
Supporters of SB 720 argue the changes will make enforcement more consistent, reduce administrative costs, and shift focus back to public safety. A flat $100 fine with no insurance or DMV impact is simpler for drivers to understand and less likely to spark legal battles. By requiring revenue to fund safety improvements, the bill directly ties enforcement to its stated goal of reducing crashes and injuries. Opponents counter that even a $100 ticket can be burdensome, particularly for low-income drivers, and that expanding automated enforcement risks creating a sense of “surveillance-driven” streets. There are also questions about whether cities will adopt the program widely, since local governments must opt in to the Safer Streets framework.
If signed into law, SB 720 could reshape red-light camera enforcement across California. Cities that abandoned their programs due to legal and financial challenges may revisit automated enforcement under the new rules. Drivers would face a simpler, less punitive system where citations arrive by mail, resemble parking tickets, and carry no long-term insurance or licensing consequences. The biggest test will be whether the changes reduce crashes and red-light violations, restoring public trust in automated enforcement as a legitimate safety tool rather than a revenue trap.