San Francisco has become the first city in California to activate a network of 33 fixed speed cameras with the cost of fines dependent upon the driver’s ability to pay.  

In one of the most divisive traffic enforcement programs in the state’s history, a means-tested fine system will offer low-income drivers a 50% discount on any penalty.

The policy has ignited accusations of favoritism, inequity, and what critics are already deriding as a ‘woke penalty loophole.’

Under the new rules, drivers who exceed the speed limit by 11 mph or more will receive fines ranging from $50 to $500, depending on how fast they’re going. 

But Californians earning under $30,120 a year for a single-person household will be eligible for half-off their citations.

While low-income residents pay half the standard fine, the sliding income scale ranges from $30,120 for a single person to $83,920 for a family of six. 

The discounts will be automatic for those who qualify and choose to apply. 

The move is a deeply polarizing one that appears to prioritize a form of income-based justice over what should be a simple matter of law and order.

San Francisco has became the first city in California to activate a network of 33 fixed speed cameras with the cost of fines dependent upon the driver’s ability to pay

San Francisco’s sliding scale for speeding fines is a deeply polarizing one that appears to prioritize a form of income-based justice over what should be a simple matter of law and order

Under the new rules, drivers who exceed the speed limit by 11 mph or more will receive fines ranging from $50 to $500, depending on how fast they’re going and how much they earn

San Francisco has long been a testing ground when it comes to city living whether it be its driverless taxis or robotic security guards, but the two tiered justice system reeks of selective enforcement. 

The devices were activated last Thursday and have been positioned at intersections in ‘high-injury corridors’ and school zones, areas flagged by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) as hotbeds of dangerous driving. 

A two-month warning period is in effect but the real fines will start dropping into drivers’ mailboxes from May.

Officials estimate the cameras could issue up to 42,000 tickets every day and in turn generate a huge amount of revenue for the city.

‘There’s also really big signage at all the locations. We’re trying to educate people. We’re trying to prevent speeding,’ said SFMTA transportation director, Julie Kirschbaum to ABC7.

San Francisco is the first city in California to set up the speed cameras with more likely to come.

‘Collecting data, we’re documenting our experience and our goal is to eventually help cities throughout California implement this important safety tool,’ Kirschbaum said..

A map has been issued so drivers know where all 33 speed cameras are located

Last year, San Francisco recorded more traffic fatalities than homicides

The city say they want to bring in a behavioral change for drivers to slow down

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie proudly posted about the speed cameras though made no mention about the discounts for lower income drivers 

Low-income drivers can be disproportionately affected by fixed fines, which can quickly spiral into license suspensions and job loss. 

Using a sliding scale for fines could be one way of bringing in a behavioral change for drivers to slow down.

Local safety group Walk SF argue the speed cameras dramatically reduce crash rates. Communications director Marta Lindsey cited New York City’s success as a model.

‘Speed cameras change behavior and then that reduces crashes. New York City has just seen dramatic results in behavior change and very few people getting second tickets, so people learn quickly,’ Lindsey said. 

Last year, San Francisco recorded more traffic fatalities than homicides. 

But for all the data and tragedy behind the program’s launch, critics warn the city may be setting a dangerous precedent: normalizing unequal penalties based not on the severity of an infraction, but the person committing it.

California’s DMV records don’t track income but a new scheme such as this has raised concerns about enforcement transparency, fraud, and selective application. 

Other California cities are watching closely, with potential rollouts already being considered if San Francisco’s data proves promising.