SB1297 allows the city of Malibu to launch a speed-camera pilot program on the Pacific Coast Highway until 2032, using automated systems to ticket drivers. The program would use up to five speed safety systems, issue warning notices for the first 60 days, and require a public information campaign before implementation. The program charges a $25 fee to appeal citations and uses excess revenue for city projects.
The California State Senate passed SB1297 on August 30, 2024 by a vote of 36 to 4. We have assigned pluses to the nays because traffic-monitoring systems undermine due process by removing human oversight and presuming guilt before innocence, violating principles protected by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. These systems also risk infringing on Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. They enable invasive surveillance, expand government overreach, and burden drivers with costly fines, all disguised as public-safety measures.
