Sacramento, California – Sacramento residents are being asked to weigh in before the city decides how a new red-light camera program will take shape, and Councilmember Mai Vang is encouraging the community to join the discussion.
The proposal could bring cameras to busy intersections in District 8, but the system would look very different from Sacramento’s older enforcement model. The city says the goal is to improve safety while adding stronger privacy protections and lower financial penalties.
A community workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Washington Elementary School, 520 18th Street in Sacramento. Residents will be able to meet the project team, review proposed camera locations, ask questions and share feedback before final decisions are made.
Two planned District 8 locations are Mack Road at Valley Hi Drive/La Mancha Way and Cosumnes River Boulevard at Bruceville Road. The city says locations are being considered using collision data along with potential impacts on surrounding communities.
The safety numbers are a major part of the proposal. According to city information shared for the workshop, 80% of Sacramento traffic collisions between 2015 and 2024 occurred at intersections. Red-light running was listed as a factor in 160 crashes that resulted in death or serious injury during that period.
Sacramento is considering the program under California’s SB 720, the Safer Streets Act, which was signed in October 2025. Under the new framework, a red-light violation would be treated as a civil infraction, similar to a parking ticket, rather than a criminal moving violation.
A first violation would carry a $100 fine, while repeat violations within three years could rise to as much as $500. No points would be added to a driver’s license, and the citation would not affect insurance rates. Eligible low-income residents could receive reductions of 50% to 80%, with payment plans available at $25 per month.
The city also says the cameras would capture only the rear license plate, along with the date, time and a short video clip. Facial images would not be collected, facial recognition would not be used, and the system would not continuously record. Sacramento says the program would be operated by Public Works rather than law enforcement and would not connect to police databases. Records would not be shared with law enforcement agencies, including federal agencies, except by court order.
Residents who cannot attend can still provide input through the city’s five-minute survey at bit.ly/saclight. More information about the program is available at visionzerosac.org/redlight. Vang is urging residents to participate now, while the city is still deciding where cameras may go and how the program will operate.