Dozens of new traffic and vehicle-related laws have taken effect with the new year, including changes to how DUI-related restrictions are handled, how courts and local governments assess fines and fees, and how traffic violations are enforced.
The new year has brought new sets of laws signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom that will utilize more technology, offer the option to lower speed limits, and help ensure equity, all of which continue to support California’s efforts to reduce traffic fatalities and improve road safety.
California has long sought to reduce the numerous deaths brought on by traffic incidents, such as with the Safe System approach. In fact, the system has benefited from these measures, with a decrease in traffic-related deaths between 2000 and 2020, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).
However, since then, the numbers have begun to climb again. To help combat this, California’s 2026 traffic and vehicle-related laws include increased use of technology, with automated enforcement systems designed to mitigate speeding and red light violations.
“When I’m driving, and there is someone speeding near me, it can get very nerve-racking. Especially in Redwood Shores, where few stop signs and roads are compatible with speeding, it can get quite dangerous, especially at night,” said Carlmont junior and driver Ava Rafii.
The alternative automated camera program to enforce red light violations was implemented with Senate Bill (SB) 720, by Sen. Angelique Ashby.
In an effort to reduce red light violations, local governments may use alternative automated camera systems to enforce red light infractions, and tickets issued through these systems are classified as civil penalties. The amount gradually increases based on the history of one’s offenses, with the first offense starting at $100.
“Automated traffic enforcement provides an alternative method of traffic enforcement, especially when law enforcement is understaffed or underfunded. SB 720 aims to give cities another tool to make roads safer, not to completely stop the use of police or law enforcement on the roads,” said Cynthia Weber, a legislative aide to Ashby.
Ashby’s introduction of this bill comes after years of thousands of Californians losing their lives to traffic collisions and Sacramento declaring a state of emergency over traffic deaths. It is also inspired by Assembly Bill (AB) 645, which passed in the California legislature and created a pilot speed program. SB 720 mirrors many of the provisions of this program.
“California’s red light enforcement system has not been updated since 1995, and many cities have shut down their programs due to losses of revenue and the outdated system,” Weber said.
The citation is issued automatically by mail to a person’s home; however, if they choose to appeal it, a $25 fee still applies. While bills like this are intended to reduce bias in law enforcement officers’ interactions based on race, they have raised concerns among many about how they can truly ensure accuracy and fairness.
“A concern I had when I heard about this was how they were going to make sure that they have the right driver? Hypothetically, if I were driving a car registered to my friend and I ran a red light, and they got a ticket even though they were not driving, how is that fair? Additionally, even if they do appeal, they still have to pay $25 to do so,” Rafii said.
Automated camera enforcement not only helps ticket speed and traffic violators, but is also intended to mitigate bias towards certain groups of people. For example, where Black individuals are more consistently stopped by cops, automated enforcement systems help to ensure fairness by only capturing speeding cars and their license plates.
“We have protections within the bill that ensure the equitable use of cameras and ensure that cameras are not placed in ways that disproportionately affect communities of color. The bill requires cameras to be placed where the highest amount of traffic fatalities occur,” Weber said.
Many drivers see the value of these cameras, thanks to their omnipresence, which holds people accountable even when police, highway patrol, or other law enforcement are not physically present to do so.
“I think it’s more effective at reducing speeding because people speed when they don’t see cops around, but there are always cameras watching you,” said Carlmont junior Sophia Lee.
These speed cameras can also be seen in conjunction with AB 289, which aims to keep construction workers safe in work zones on highways and roadways. It mandates that drivers follow the speed limit, and those who do not will have their license plate captured by speed cameras; the vehicle’s owner will then be issued an income-based ticket in the mail.
“People disregard the speed limit in work zones, which is 55 mph. Sometimes they ignore it, or they are not paying attention, but we often see people speeding through work zones. AB 289 will make it so the Department of Transportation will detect speeding violations and get a clear photograph of the vehicle’s license plate,” said California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Israel Murillo Jr.
Speed-related enforcement is also being strengthened with a new pilot program. New efforts to focus on drivers travelling 100 mph or more are subject to immediate license suspension or revocation. Those who are caught going at these speeds will have their record sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for review and may face high fines, mandatory court appearances, and other penalties.
In 2024, 18,000 citations were issued for people travelling over 100 mph in California by the CHP, according to CalSTA.
“Thankfully, it is not every day that we make stops for 100 mph. It happens a couple of times a week, but it is nonetheless still very dangerous,” Murillo said.
In addition to enforcement changes, California has passed a bill to address how fines affect low-income residents and ensure equity. AB 1299 allows courts to reduce or waive parking tickets for individuals who lack the financial means to pay. Supporters of the bill, including the San Francisco Public Defender and Bay Area Legal Aid, argue that it would help prevent more drastic measures, such as towing or registration holds, for those who are unable to pay.
One of the most significant of the driving-under-the-influence (DUI) or driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) laws is AB 1087, which increases the term of probation from two years to up to five years, with a minimum of three years for anyone convicted of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. This puts an end to a legal loophole that previously allowed drivers who were drunk and caused fatal accidents to receive a shorter probation term than those who were intoxicated but did not cause a deadly accident.
“My goal is to hold criminals accountable, advocate for common-sense policies, and ensure our government works for the people,” said California Assembly member Joe Patterson, the author of AB 1087, in a statement about the bill.
While the number of fatal accidents caused by those under the influence is still less than that of those who were sober, there is still a significant portion of fatal accidents being caused by impairment. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk or impaired driving kills someone, on average, every 42 minutes.
Additionally, the ignition interlock device (IID) pilot program was extended into 2033. The bill, AB 366, is an extension of a previous bill that is set to expire in 2032. IIDs are a breathalyzer within the vehicle that is wired to the ignition and prevents drivers from starting their vehicle if they are not sober. It is primarily used when mandated by the court for DUI offenders who want to restore their driving privileges.
“These new laws keep us safer and help make it less worrisome to drive on the road. Even though I occasionally speed and do some of the violations mentioned in these laws, I think that these new laws are important to keeping us safe, and I am glad they are being put in place,” Lee said.
