Automated traffic enforcement system programs.

Senator Ashby's automated traffic enforcement legislation authorizes California cities and counties to implement red light camera programs while establishing comprehensive requirements for system deployment, operation, and oversight. The bill creates a framework for using automated systems to detect traffic signal violations, requiring jurisdictions to post clear warning signs, conduct 60-day warning periods before enforcement begins, and limit photographs to vehicle rear license plates.

The legislation establishes an escalating civil penalty structure, starting at $100 for first violations and increasing to $500 for repeated infractions within three years. Jurisdictions must provide administrative review processes, including initial evaluations and formal hearings conducted by independent examiners. The bill requires programs to accommodate indigent drivers through penalty reductions, payment plans, and community service options.

Revenue from penalties must first cover program costs, with remaining funds dedicated to traffic calming measures like bike lanes, raised crosswalks, and roundabouts. Jurisdictions must maintain existing local funding for such improvements and document how automated enforcement systems are deployed across geographically and socioeconomically diverse locations. The bill prohibits compensation structures that link vendor payments to citation volumes and requires annual reporting on violation data, dismissal rates, and collision statistics at monitored intersections.