Speed Safety Cameras Background & Frequently Asked Questions

Speed safety cameras have proven highly effective at preventing traffic deaths and injuries in cities across the Untied States and around the world, and Oakland's leadership has supported the multi-year effort to implement speed cameras through changes to state law.

No. This speed safety camera program is a completely separate and different kind of program. OakDOT contracted with speed safety technology vendor Verra Mobility to implement this program, not Flock Safety.

Assembly Bill 645, the authorizing bill for speed cameras, only authorizes the use of photographs that capture the rear of the license plate, not the windshield or face of driver. The legislation prohibits the use of video or facial recognition software. Camera footage may be retained for five days if no violation is issued, or 60 days if a violation is issued. Finally, footage is collected by the Department of Transportation and may not be shared or used for any other purpose.

The state law allows a proportional number of cameras to the city’s population. For Oakland, there will be 18 locations with speed safety camera systems.

The state law specifies any speeding 11 miles per hour or over the posted speed limit would trigger a violation. Notifications of violations will be mailed to the registered owner of the speeding vehicle within two weeks of the violation.

All radar equipment is calibrated and certificated by a 3rd party vendor at least once a year and undergo routine inspection every month. For the calibration specification sheets, visit our calibration document page.

According to Assembly Bill 645, the authorizing legislation for speed cameras in California, Oakland is required to install warning signs within 500 feet of each speed camera approach. This signage was in place before the program began issuing warnings at each speed camera approach and is field checked every 30 days by our contractor to account for potential vandalism and/or theft. The city uses state and federally approved signage from the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. This approved signage is a speed limit sign with a plaque underneath that reads “Photo Enforced”.

Moreover, the first time the driver exceeds 11-15MPH and is captured by a speed camera, that too is a warning, even if it occurs after citations began on March 15th.

It costs the City of Oakland approximately $1M a year to operate speed cameras. Any revenue that the program generates beyond the cost of operations must be dedicated to traffic calming improvements in Oakland, as per Assembly Bill 645, the authorizing legislation for speed cameras in Oakland. Please see the Impact Report(PDF, 232KB) and Use Policy(PDF, 110KB) for more details.

We are currently operating speed cameras at the maximum number of locations permitted by state law, Assembly Bill 645, which is the authorizing legislation for speed cameras in California. Under AB 645, a city of Oakland’s size may operate speed cameras at up to 18 locations.