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Committee clears bill to allow Long Beach to add speed cameras on Pacific Coast Highway
Summary
SB 12 79 would permit Long Beach to include a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in the state's automated speed camera pilot. City officials said PCH accounts for a disproportionate share of city fatalities; some members questioned whether cameras will reduce pedestrian fatalities and voiced affordability concerns about fines.
The committee on Wednesday voted to send SB 12 79 forward as amended, a bill allowing the city of Long Beach to place automated speed cameras on a high‑injury stretch of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).
Sponsor representatives told lawmakers that the eight‑mile PCH corridor in Long Beach accounts for about 20% of the city’s traffic fatalities while representing a small fraction of roadway miles. "For too many in Long Beach, PCH has become a source of fear and loss," Councilwoman Megan Kerr said, urging the committee to approve the pilot expansion to reduce speeding near schools, parks and business districts.
Ryan Kelly, senior traffic engineer for Long Beach, said the city’s public engagement found broad support for camera placement at the identified high‑injury locations and cited evidence from other camera programs showing large reductions in speeding. "The evidence from ASC programs around the country and in the San Francisco pilot program demonstrate substantial changes in motorist behavior," Kelly said.
Some members raised concerns about penalty amounts and whether cameras would meaningfully address pedestrian fatalities in the corridor. Assembly member Lackey said his review of local statistics suggested pedestrian behavior—not speeding—was the primary driver of fatalities in the specific eight‑mile stretch, and he expressed concern about enforcement and equity given fine levels.
Committee chair acknowledged those concerns but noted the bill was amended to add only two additional cameras to an existing pilot and urged continued evaluation of pilot data. SB 12 79 was passed as amended to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee for further consideration.
The author said the pilot aims to reduce speeds where traditional calming measures are not compatible with the roadway design and pointed to public engagement and prior pilot results as justification for the narrow expansion.
