What AB 645 Actually Is
Assembly Bill 645, signed into law in 2023, created a pilot program letting a handful of California cities enforce speed limits with automated cameras. Los Angeles is one of the pilot cities, along with Glendale, Long Beach, Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco. Cameras go up in designated zones — school areas and high-injury corridors — and photograph vehicles traveling at least 11 miles per hour over the posted limit.
The key thing to understand: this is a pilot with its own rulebook. AB 645 citations are handled as civil penalties, not as the criminal infractions a roadside speeding ticket creates. That single distinction changes the fine structure, the record consequences, and how you fight it.
How the Fines Work
Camera citations trigger at 11 mph or more over the posted limit. Fines start at $50 and scale upward with your speed. The first notice a driver receives is a warning with no fine attached — fines begin with subsequent violations.
Because these are civil penalties, the money does not flow through the court fine system the way a regular ticket does — and critically, there are no penalty assessments stacked on top. What you see on the notice is much closer to what you actually pay, unlike a standard speeding ticket where the base fine roughly triples once assessments are added.
Why These Tickets Are Different From Regular Speeding Tickets
Three differences matter most. First, no DMV points. Because AB 645 violations are civil, they do not go on your driving record as moving violations and do not feed the negligent-operator point system. Your insurer cares about points; camera tickets do not create them.
Second, the citation goes to the registered owner, not necessarily the driver. The camera photographs the license plate, and the notice mails to whoever the vehicle is registered to. That liability is rebuttable — if you were not driving, you can say so and present evidence — but the starting presumption is that the owner is responsible.
Third, the fight happens in an administrative hearing, not traffic court. You contest a civil citation through the program’s review process, with procedures and deadlines set by the local program — so the notice itself is your most important document. Read every line, especially the contest deadline.
How to Contest a Speed Camera Citation
1. Read the notice like an investigator
The citation should include the photos, the recorded speed, the posted limit, and the date, time, and location. Check every detail: wrong plate characters, a location you were not near, a speed limit that does not match the signs — any of these can unravel the citation.
2. Challenge the camera, not just the photo
Automated systems must be calibrated and maintained. Calibration records, maintenance logs, and testing history are all fair game. If the jurisdiction cannot show the camera was properly calibrated and the zone properly signed, the reading itself is questionable.
3. Check the signage and the zone
The program requires warning signage in camera zones. Missing or non-compliant signs are a classic defense, as is a wrongly posted speed limit — if the signs do not match what the camera enforced, the citation’s foundation cracks.
4. If you were not driving, say so with evidence
Borrowed car, a family member behind the wheel, a vehicle you had already sold — owner liability is rebuttable. A sworn statement plus supporting evidence beats a bare denial.
5. Meet the contest deadline
Administrative citations have short contest windows, and missing the deadline usually forfeits the fight. If you want help, get the citation reviewed immediately — a free ticket scan takes a minute.
Mistakes That Make Camera Tickets Worse
United Traffic Tickets is not a law firm — we provide document preparation and case tracking with attorney review before filing — but camera citations deserve the same disciplined review as any ticket: evidence first, decisions second.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will an AB 645 speed camera ticket put a point on my California driving record?
No. These are civil penalties, not moving-violation infractions, so they add no DMV points and do not count toward negligent-operator suspensions.
I was not driving when the camera ticket was issued. Do I still have to pay?
The notice goes to the registered owner, but that presumption can be rebutted. If someone else was driving, the car was sold, or it was stolen, contest the citation with supporting evidence — a sworn statement plus paperwork beats a bare denial.
How much is an AB 645 speed camera fine in Los Angeles?
Fines start at $50 for 11 mph over and increase with speed. Your first notice is a warning with no fine; penalties apply to later violations.
Can a speed camera ticket be dismissed?
Yes, through the administrative contest process. Common winning challenges include mistaken vehicle identification, missing or improper warning signage, camera calibration gaps, and incorrect speed-limit postings. Our guide to fighting tickets by mail covers the mindset — evidence first, deadlines always.
Should I just pay a speed camera ticket?
Not before a free review. Camera evidence is often weaker than it looks. Text a photo of the citation to (833) 293-1095 and we will look at the details, the location, and your deadline — free — before you decide.
Got a camera ticket? Get a free review first.
Text a photo of your citation to (833) 293-1095 for a free review — we’ll check the violation details, the camera location, and your contest deadline before you pay a dollar. You can also scan your ticket free online in about a minute.