Officials To Weigh Pursuing Speed Enforcement Cameras In Rancho Palos Verdes

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA — The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council will look into whether it should pursue adding speed enforcement cameras and other safety precautions along some roadways.

Next Tuesday, the council is expected to discuss the possibility of joining the state's Speed Safety System Pilot Program.

The Speed Safety System Pilot Program is a result of the Assembly Bill 645, which in 2023 authorized cities such as Long Beach and Oakland to take part in a five-year pilot program that would install automated speed enforcement cameras to make streets safer. Senate Bill 1297, which passed in 2024, is an expansion of AB 645 and allows Malibu to implement the same system along Pacific Coast Highway.

City Manager Ara Mihranian says Rancho Palos Verdes follows current laws and camera technology to address speeding and loud exhaust issues.

That includes radar speed feedback along arterial roadways and working with the Lomtia Sheriff's Station to combat loud vehicle exhaust, according to an administrative report by the city.

"Similar to other communities nationwide, both these issues are a concern for Rancho Palos Verdes," Mihranian told Patch. "Speeding is observed on many of our arterial streets including Palos Verdes Drive South, West, and East (including the Switchbacks) and Hawthorne Blvd. to name a few."

Rancho Palos Verdes is also exploring other "emerging" technologies, such as drones, according to the administrative report. The concept is still in its early phases, but it is currently being considered by the Lomita Sheriff's Station.

Other police departments in cities such as Chula Vista and Beverly Hills are already using drones to help with enforcement.

"The use of drones presents a unique opportunity to enhance public safety by providing real time aerial surveillance and faster response times to incidents often arriving minutes before deputies, according to the administrative report. "This capability allows for greater situational awareness and improved coordination in the field."