Level of income determines the size of the fine drivers caught on camera speeding in San Francisco have to pay, under the city’s new “equity” based speed safety program, which went into effect March 20.
The speed cameras are located based on socio-economic equity and diversity, the program’s fact sheet explains:
“Speed safety cameras will be dispersed across San Francisco in an equitable fashion—reflecting the diverse socio-economic makeup of the city.”
Depending on income, the speed enforcement program provides:
- “Discounts for low-income households” of up to 80%.
- “A payment plan with monthly installments of no more than twenty-five dollars.”
- “Community service options,” in lieu fines.
“A designated jurisdiction shall reduce the applicable fines and penalties by 80 percent for indigent persons, and by 50 percent for individuals up to 250 percent above the federal poverty level,” according to Assembly Bill 645, approved by Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Proof of income is required to qualify for the discounts.
A person is considered “indigent” if either of the following conditions is met:
(A) The person meets the income criteria set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 68632 of the Government Code.
(B) The person receives public benefits from a program listed in subdivision (a) of Section 68632 of the Government Code.
The license plate data collected will be stored by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, a department of the City and County of San Francisco, for a maximum of 120 days – and will not be shared with any other government agency.
One concern about the discount program is that it may set the precedent for basing the penalties for other crimes on the income level of the offender.
For the first 60 days of the program, beginning March 20, drivers caught on camera speeding will be issued warnings, not fines. After that, anyone caught driving at least 11 miles per hour over the speed limit will be ticketed and subjected to the income-based fine. The pre-discounted face value of the fine ranges from $50 to $500.
The reduced-fine program cannot be combined with any other promotions or discounts.