Vehicles: automated speed enforcement.

Existing law establishes a basic speed law that prohibits a person from driving a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent given the weather, visibility, traffic, and highway conditions, and in no event at a speed that endangers the safety of persons or property. Existing law also prohibits driving in excess of a posted speed limit, as specified. Existing law makes it a violation of the basic speed law to drive in excess of a reduced speed limit posted in a road construction zone, as specified. Existing law temporarily authorizes a speed safety pilot program in certain cities using automated speed enforcement systems, as specified. This bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to develop guidelines for the implementation of a state highway work zone speed safety program using automated speed enforcement systems, as specified. The bill would authorize the Department of Transportation to establish a state highway work zone speed safety program in accordance with those guidelines. The bill would require the department, if a program is established, to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature, as specified. The bill would require any moneys generated from the issuance of the citations to be deposited in the Safe Highway Work Zone Account, created in the State Transportation Fund, and for the moneys to be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Transportation for administration of the program. The provisions of the bill would become inoperative on July 1, 2030. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.