City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: September 8, 2026
Agenda Item: 10.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Christopher Dishlip, Director of Public Works, Mobility Division Subject: Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Adding Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 3.12.540 to Establish an Automated Traffic Enforcement System (ATES) Program
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Introduce for first reading the attached ordinance adding Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 3.12.540 to establish an Automated Traffic Enforcement System (ATES) Program to detect a violation of a traffic control signal; and
3. Direct staff to monitor state legislation related to automated speed enforcement and evaluate opportunities for implementation should Santa Monica become eligible under state law.
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Summary
On February 10, 2026, the City Council directed staff to further the City’s Vision Zero efforts and prioritize human life over vehicle throughput in design and engineering decisions regarding the city right-of-way. Subsequently, staff began advancing a variety of Vision Zero initiatives including an automated red-light camera enforcement program at two intersections. The proposed program utilizes the authority granted under California Vehicle Code Section 21455.9 (SB 720), which authorizes jurisdictions to implement Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems (ATES) for red-light violations through a civil administrative process.
The proposed ordinance establishes and authorizes the City’s use of ATES. Adoption of the ordinance allows staff to continue advancing an ATES program selection process through site selection, procurement, preparation of the required ATES Impact Report, development of operational and administrative procedures, and future expansion of the program as warranted by data and state law requirements. Staff is currently evaluating procurement options and will return to Council with an award recommendation and the aforementioned ATES program requirements at a future date.
Background
The City of Santa Monica is committed to achieving its Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries while improving safety for all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists. On February 10, 2026, the City Council directed staff to advance Vision Zero efforts that further prioritized human life over vehicle throughput in design and engineering decisions regarding the City rightof-way. This direction was refined to include an ATES program focused on red-light violations at two signalized intersections. The ATES program uses fixed cameras to capture images and video of vehicles for the purpose of enforcing red-light violations at signalized intersections. Red-light running is a significant contributing factor in severe right-angle and turning collisions at signalized intersections. ATES have been used throughout the United States as a tool to improve compliance with traffic signals and reduce serious crashes. Nearby Culver City has operated a traditional red-light camera 3 of 6
program since 1999. In 2017, Culver City reported a 12.6 percent reduction in red-light violations. Citations issued under the traditional red-light camera program (California Vehicle Code Section 21455.5) are moving violations issued to the identified driver and carry a monetary fine as well as Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) points. In contrast, violations issued under the SB 720 program are civil violations issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, carry a comparatively lower penalty, and do not result in DMV points.
ATES may advance equity objectives by applying traffic laws consistently and predictably through objective, technology-based enforcement. Unlike traditional enforcement, ATES can be deployed based on documented safety needs and operate continuously without discretionary enforcement decisions. Senate Bill 720, known as the Safer Streets Act (2025), codified as California Vehicle Code Section 21455.9, authorizes designated jurisdictions to implement ATES for red-light violations under specified conditions. The legislation modernizes automated enforcement by establishing a civil administrative process in which violations are associated with the vehicle rather than the driver. Civil penalties are limited by state law, additional administrative fees are restricted, and jurisdictions must comply with requirements related to public notice, impact reporting, privacy protection, site selection, and ongoing program evaluation. For example, if no fine has been assessed for a violation within the preceding three years, the violation would be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100).
The Legislature has also authorized automated speed enforcement in limited jurisdictions through Assembly Bill 645. While Santa Monica is not currently an eligible jurisdiction, staff will continue monitoring state legislation and evaluating opportunities to utilize automated speed enforcement technologies if future legislation expands eligibility.
Discussion
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This proposed enabling ordinance establishes the City’s authority to implement an Automated Traffic Enforcement System Program consistent with California Vehicle Code Section 21455.9 and represents a significant milestone in implementing a Council-directed Vision Zero priority.
Since receiving Council direction, staff has established a multidisciplinary project team consisting of internal representatives from the Mobility Division, Police Department, City Attorney’s Office, Finance Department, and Engineering Division. Staff has initiated site selection analysis, evaluated procurement pathways, and begun reviewing administrative and operational requirements associated with implementation of the program. The ordinance is intended to enable a citywide ATES Program rather than implement enforcement at a fixed number of locations. While the initial deployment is anticipated to focus on two intersections consistent with Council direction, the ordinance authorizes staff to evaluate, select, add, remove, or relocate enforcement locations based on established safety criteria, collision history, operational considerations, available funding, and the requirements of California Vehicle Code Section 21455.9.
Any future expansion of the program would remain subject to Council discretion and state law requirements, including findings supporting the need for automated enforcement at each location and preparation of any required reporting and public notification.
Prior to installation and operation of any ATES, the City must complete several additional requirements established by state law, including:
• Selection of candidate intersections based on objective safety criteria. • Adoption of findings demonstrating that automated traffic enforcement is needed at selected locations for safety purposes.
• Completion and adoption of an ATES Impact Report.
• Development of procedures governing citation review, hearings, payment plans, privacy protections, and records retention.
• Installation of required public notification signage. • Completion of a mandatory warning period prior to issuance of citations.
In addition, staff is proposing the following fines to deter traffic violations. 5 of 6
Fines
In addition, staff is proposing fines to deter traffic violations. The fines and late fees would be capped by state law and presented to Council through an amendment to the Fines Resolution. The legislation establishes civil penalties under California Vehicle Code Section 21455.9 and is designed as a safety program, not a revenue source.
Revenues may be used to operate the ATES program, but the City must maintain its existing transportation safety funding. Any excess revenue is restricted by state law and must be spent only on approved transportation safety purposes. As a result, the program should be viewed primarily as a safety initiative rather than a revenue source.
Table 1. Proposed Fines for Automated Traffic Enforcement Violations (State-LawCapped) Category Amount
(Capped by State Law)
Applicability
First violation $100 No fine assessed within the previous 3 years Second
violation
$200 Within 3 years after one separate previous
violation
Third
violation
$350 Within 3 years after two separate previous
violations
Fourth of
subsequent
violation
$500 Within 3 years after three or more separate
previous violations
First late fee $50 Unpaid penalties
Staff will continue monitoring state legislation related to automated safety enforcement and evaluate opportunities to utilize such technologies if Santa Monica becomes eligible under state law. Any future deployment of automated safety enforcement would require compliance with applicable statutory requirements.
Environmental Review
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The proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), (the common sense exemption) which states that CEQA does not apply, “where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” The proposed ordinance establishes the legal framework for an ATES.
Accordingly, adoption of the ordinance will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable physical change in the environment and therefore, is exempt from CEQA.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action. Staff will return to Council if specific budget actions are required in the future. As discussed in the Fines section above, revenue would be restricted by state law.
Prepared By: Ariel Pepper, Transportation Planning Associate Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. ORD-Traffic Enforcement System 09.08.26
B. Written Comments