DRIVERS face fines of up to $500 as newly installed cameras across a major US city are now operational.
City officials have announced that 33 automated cameras are actively monitoring for speeding violations, ready to issue substantial fines.
Drivers risk fines of up to $500 with newly installed cameras across a major US city[/caption]
Cameras went live at midnight after a short warning period[/caption]
Speed limits are being enforced in both directions with fines starting at $50 for exceeding the speed limit[/caption]
According to Axious San Francisco, a range of new speed safety cameras are to be made operational from midnight on Tuesday, August 6 – with locals informed in March of their arrival.
This new tech, installed earlier in the year, has started issuing fines to drivers as of midnight – after a short warning period.
Speed limits are being enforced in both directions unless otherwise noted, with fines for those caught out starting at $50 for exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph and going up to $500 for speeds of 100 mph or more.
However, some drivers may be eligible for discounts if they are low-income residents or recipients of public assistance.
Transportation officials have said the cameras have been effective in reducing speeding and fatal traffic collisions at high-risk intersections since their launch in March.
Viktoriya Wise, SFMTA’s director of streets, said: “By using technology to change driving behavior, we’re not only slowing cars, but saving lives – especially as children head back to school.”
This comes days after a controversial citywide parking ban was revealed – angering certain drivers.
Hundreds of struggling homeless families will no longer be allowed to live in their vehicles, after the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a ban on long-term RV parking.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said in June that the plan would help “clean the streets.”
But the approval prompted one homeless man to declare he would refuse to move his vehicle.
“We don’t plan on leaving at all because we’ve been here for years,” said Zach Bollinger, who lives in his RV.
There has been a mixed reaction from residents after the plan was given the green light.
One concerned opponent asked on social media, “So the big question is who will make coffee and fast food when they chase everyone away?
“Who will be left to take care of the elite? If a worker can’t afford to live where they work, then the whole area will lose its foundation and fail.
“The bottom line is no company can run without its lowest paid employees.
“Instead of backing all these useless CEOs and their out-of-control wages, we need to invest in making sure lower wage folks can actually survive.”
New ‘daylighting’ law
A new parking law has been introduced in California.
California Assembly Bill 413, also known as the Daylighting to Save Lives Bill, prohibits parking within 20 feet of crosswalks.
The law makes it illegal for drivers to stop, stand, or park within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
Daylighting is a term for keeping the areas next to intersections as clear as possible to improve visibility on the street and protect pedestrians and bike riders.
The law also prohibits parking personal and commercial vehicles within 20 feet of the left curb on one-way streets or within 15 feet of crosswalks where a curb extension is present.
The law goes into effect on January 1, 2025.
There will be a 60-day grace period for violations until March 1.
