Senator Lena Gonzalez’s Bill to Improve Safety on the Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach Heads to Governor’s…
SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Lena Gonzalez's (D-Long Beach) Senate Bill (SB) 1279, a bill to reduce speed-related fatalities on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Long Beach, passed the Legislature today and now heads to the Governor’s desk for a signature.
To improve traffic safety, the state launched a speed camera pilot program spanning six cities from San Francisco to Long Beach. So far, the cameras are proving effective - San Francisco, the first city to launch the pilot, has seen speeding drop 72% since activating its cameras.
Speed camera implementation is coming to Long Beach at a critical time – the City saw the highest number of traffic fatalities in over a decade last year. However, current law excludes the PCH from the speed camera pilot program. This stretch of road accounts for a disproportionately high share of crash fatalities in Long Beach: while the PCH spans only 8 miles of Long Beach's 217 miles of high-capacity roadway, it accounts for 39 of its 192 crash fatalities since 2020.
SB 1279 is a simple, commonsense bill to give the City the authority it needs to place two speed cameras along the PCH and make this road safer for the community.
"Everyone should be able to travel along PCH safely, whether they are driving to work, walking to school, biking to the park, or simply crossing the street in their neighborhood," said Senator Lena Gonzalez. "By adding this corridor to California's speed safety camera pilot program, SB 1279 will give Long Beach another proven tool to reduce dangerous speeding, make our streets safer, and save lives.”
"At least 3 speed-related traffic fatalities have occurred in the first 8 months of this year on the small stretch of PCH that goes through Long Beach, said Damian Kevitt, Executive Director, Streets Are For Everyone. “We applaud Senator Gonzalez for her work to get SB 1279 to the Governor's desk. It's imperative that these speed safety systems be implemented as soon as possible to help prevent further loss of life."
California’s speed safety camera pilot program was created in response to concerning statistics: 34% of traffic fatalities and serious injuries are related to speed and aggressive driving, and around 4,000 people die in traffic collisions in the state each year. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists are particularly at-risk – accounting for 65% of all traffic deaths and injuries in Long Beach despite being involved in only 14% of collisions.
"The evidence from other California jurisdictions implementing automated speed enforcement is clear – speed cameras are uniquely effective at deterring dangerous driving,” said Marc T. Vukcevich, Director of State Policy, Streets For All. “SB 1279 is a targeted, sorely-needed intervention to address an issue that has drawn increasing public concern."
The speed safety camera pilot program also includes strong guidelines and protections for privacy and community members, including:
- Clear signage must indicate the area will be “Photo Enforced”, with flashing beacons.
- Photographic records must be confidential, capture only rear license plates and be used solely for purposes of the pilot.
- A vehicle’s first violation for traveling 11 to 15 miles per hour over the posted speed limit shall only be a warning notice.
- For subsequent violations, a penalty of $50 shall be assessed for drivers going 11 to 15 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, $100 for 16 to 25 miles over, $200 for 26 miles or more over the posted speed limit, or $500 for a speed of 100 miles per hour or more.
- For indigent speed safety violation recipients, the City must offer community service or educational programs in lieu of paying any penalty.
- If neither of the above programs are taken up by an indigent speed safety violation recipient, the City must offer payment plans of $25 per month or less, and reduce applicable fines by 80%.
SB 1279 now heads to the Governor’s desk for a signature. Governor Newsom has until September 30, 2026 to sign legislation.
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About Senator Lena Gonzalez
Senator Lena Gonzalez proudly represents one million residents in California’s 33rd Senate District, which encompasses Southeast Los Angeles, the City and Port of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and Catalina Island. She serves as Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus and is a dedicated advocate on key priorities that impact Californians from economic development and environmental justice to LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, digital equity and more. Senator Gonzalez has championed major policies, including broadband for all, expanding paid sick leave, advancing clean transportation incentives, and ending neighborhood oil drilling. She lives in Long Beach with her family. To learn more, visit www.sen.ca.gov/gonzalez.
About Streets For All
Streets For All is a California-based transportation and land use advocacy organization that is engaged in work that promotes sustainable multi-modal transportation solutions, street safety, and smart land use decision-making.
About Streets Are For Everyone
Streets Are For Everyone (known as SAFE) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in January 2015 that aims to improve the quality of life for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers alike by reducing traffic fatalities to zero. SAFE addresses the problem in a holistic fashion through direct education, broad awareness campaigns, partnerships, community outreach, policy and legislation, support for those impacted, and other proven strategies.
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