Drivers who speed in Oakland can soon receive citations in their mailboxes. In an effort to apprehend drivers who surpass the speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour, city officials this week approved a new initiative to deploy automatic speed cameras at 18 busy areas throughout the city.
The scheme, which is based on a similar one that is already underway in San Francisco, will focus on high-speed zones around schools, senior centres, and business districts. Transportation authorities in Oakland say the cameras will be placed in each of the city’s districts.
With 43% of daily traffic exceeding the 40 mph limit by at least 10 mph, Hegenberger Road close to Spencer Street had the highest speeding rates among the places that were examined.
For over 30 years, Quintero Nieves and his spouse have resided at the intersection of Spencer Street and Hegenberger Road.
According to him, many people drive at speeds of up to 70 or 80 miles per hour, treating the road like a motorway. The couple is always afraid that one day an automobile may lose control and collide with their house.
“We’ve got used to seeing this kind of speeding around here and there’s no one doing anything much about it,” stated Quintero Nieves.
The city wants that to change. Oakland and five other California towns are now able to implement automated speed enforcement systems according to new state law.
The Oakland Department of Transportation’s Assistant Director, Jamie Parks, described the program’s operation. “Obviously, we may waive that citation if the car was stolen. However, you are accountable for their actions if you allow someone to use your car and they go faster than the posted speed limit,” he stated.
Drivers seen exceeding the official speed limit by 11 kilometres per hour or more can receive tickets starting at $50. Although Parks pointed out that the infractions won’t add points to a driver’s record, higher speeds will result in bigger fines.
“On average, over 30 Oaklanders die every year in traffic crashes and hundreds are injured. And we know that speed is the number one factor in those crashes,” Parks said.
Privacy advocates, however, are concerned about the initiative. The non-profit Oakland Privacy’s Research Director, Mike Katz-Lacabe, issued a warning regarding the wider ramifications of automated spying.
“We’re moving into more of a surveillance state, where there are more cameras, they’re watching us, they’re doing things on an automated fashion. How will those cameras be used in the future?’ is the next question,” Katz-Lacabe remarked. “If you get the ticket, the responsibility is on you to contest it and to prove that you’re innocent, which is kind of a perversion of our current justice system where you’re innocent until proven guilty.”
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Law-abiding drivers, however, have nothing to fear, according to city officials who supported the plan.
“If you’re speeding on a public street, you have no privacy,” East Oakland Councilman Ken Houston stated. “This is the first stage of bringing back law and order, law and order.”
Quintero Nieves, who is now 85, stated that he is in favour of the action and thinks it will result in long-term reform.
Quintero Nieves stated, “Gonna be less accidents.”
By this autumn, the cameras should be completely functional, according to city officials. Official citations will be issued after a 60-day warning period.
