Malibu Delays PCH Speed Camera Launch As Traffic Study Continues

MALIBU, CA — The city has delayed the start of its speed camera warning period until November as the city makes installation adjustments and continues a traffic study in eastern Malibu, officials announced.

The warning period had been expected to begin in late September.

Several cameras are already operating in a testing and data-gathering phase, but they are not issuing warnings or citations, accessing Department of Motor Vehicles information or taking any enforcement action, according to the city.

Drivers may still see a camera flash when speeding is detected. During the testing period, however, the flash does not result in a warning or ticket.

Preliminary data collected from Sept. 16 through Sept. 24 recorded about 100,000 speeding violations at four camera locations, according to the city. About 86% of those violations occurred in eastern Malibu.

The city is continuing a traffic study in that area to evaluate existing speed limits, including near the planned cameras at Carbon Canyon and Tuna Canyon. The study is expected to be completed in November.

Officials said the additional time will allow the city to complete the study and make necessary installation changes before beginning the program's formal warning period.

Malibu is one of seven California cities authorized under laws passed in 2023 and 2024 to pilot automated speed enforcement. The other cities are Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Long Beach and Glendale.

Under state law, speed cameras may be installed in designated safety corridors, school zones and locations with a history of street racing or sideshows. Cities must also distribute the cameras across neighborhoods with different socioeconomic characteristics.

Once Malibu begins its 60-day warning period, drivers caught speeding will receive notices rather than fines.

After the warning period ends, penalties will depend on how far above the speed limit a driver is traveling. Drivers going 11 to 15 mph over the limit receive a written warning for a first violation and a $50 fine for subsequent violations. Fines increase to $100 for driving 16 to 25 mph over the limit, $200 for driving 26 to 99 mph over and $500 for driving 100 mph or more over the limit.

The statewide effort is authorized as a pilot program through 2032.

• See also: 185 New Speed Cameras Coming To CA Roads: See Where

Malibu's program comes amid years of concern over deadly crashes on Pacific Coast Highway. The city declared a Local Emergency in November 2023 following the deaths of four Pepperdine University students in what prosecutors describe as a crash caused by a speeding driver. That driver is facing murder charges in the women's deaths.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1297 in September 2024, authorizing automated speed enforcement along PCH in Malibu.

Officials previously identified five locations for cameras along the highway: Decker Canyon Road; between Guernsey Avenue and Morning View Drive; Latigo Canyon Road; between Carbon Beach Terrace and Carbon Canyon Road; and Tuna Canyon Road.

The city said it will release additional information about the November warning-period launch as installation work and the traffic study are completed.