California Just Dropped Speed Limits by 5 MPH—Here’s Where You’ll Get Ticketed Starting January 2026
California’s new speed limit laws taking effect January 1, 2026, authorize Caltrans to reduce highway speed limits by up to 5 mph and allow local governments to lower school zone speeds from 25 mph to 20 mph. The most controversial change: automated speed cameras in work zones will ticket drivers going just 11 mph over the limit, with fines starting at $50.
Here’s the shocking part: these aren’t minor tweaks to existing regulations. California is fundamentally changing how speed limits are set, moving away from the decades-old “85th percentile rule” that based limits on how fast most drivers actually travel. The new approach prioritizes safety data over driver behavior—and enforcement is getting automated, meaning cameras will catch violations without officers present.
The Major Speed Limit Changes Hitting California in 2026
Assembly Bill 1014: Highways Can Drop 5 MPH
Starting January 1, 2026, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) gains authority to reduce speed limits by 5 mph on state highways where safety data justifies lower speeds.
This affects high-injury corridors, areas with vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists), school zones, and business districts. Instead of relying solely on traffic engineering studies that measure how fast drivers currently travel, Caltrans can now prioritize collision history and pedestrian activity when setting limits.
Example: A highway currently posted at 65 mph could drop to 60 mph if crash data shows excessive speeding contributes to serious injuries.
The law includes a 30-day grace period. During the first month after a speed limit reduction, officers can only issue warnings for drivers going 10 mph or less over the new limit. After 30 days, normal enforcement resumes.
Assembly Bill 382: School Zones Drop to 20 MPH
School zones are getting slower—whether local governments want it or not.
Through January 1, 2031, cities and counties have the option to lower school zone speed limits from 25 mph to 20 mph through local ordinance or resolution.
After January 1, 2031, the change becomes automatic statewide. Every school zone will default to 20 mph wherever proper signage is posted, no local action required.
This change reflects growing concern about pedestrian deaths. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian fatalities increased significantly in recent years, with school-age children among the most vulnerable.
Assembly Bill 289: Automated Speed Cameras in Work Zones
This is the law generating the most controversy: work zone speed cameras that can ticket you by mail.
Caltrans is launching a pilot program using fixed or mobile radar/laser systems in highway construction zones to automatically detect speeding and photograph license plates. No officer needs to be present.
Citations go to the registered vehicle owner with these details:
- Violation threshold: 11 mph or more over the posted limit
- Fine structure:
- 11-15 mph over: $50
- 16-25 mph over: $100
- 26 mph or more over: $500
- 100+ mph (yes, in a work zone): Higher penalties
These are civil penalties, not criminal citations, meaning they won’t automatically add points to your license—but they’re still enforceable fines you must pay.
Warning signs must be posted alerting drivers to camera enforcement. The cameras remain only while construction work is active and move when projects finish.
Why California Is Abandoning the “85th Percentile Rule”
For decades, California used the “85th percentile rule”—a traffic engineering standard from the 1930s and 1940s that sets speed limits based on the speed at or below which 85% of drivers travel under ideal conditions.
The problem: this approach essentially lets drivers set their own speed limits. If most drivers ignore a 35 mph sign and drive 45 mph, the 85th percentile rule would suggest raising the limit to match driver behavior.
Safety advocates argued this created a dangerous feedback loop where speed limits kept rising despite collision data showing slower speeds save lives.
Assembly Bill 1014 breaks this cycle by allowing agencies to prioritize safety over speed surveys. Cities can now set lower limits based on:
- Collision and injury history
- Pedestrian and bicycle activity
- School zones and senior centers
- Business districts with frequent crossings
- High-injury corridors identified in safety analyses
Agencies must still document their decisions in engineering and traffic surveys and follow an updated California Manual for Setting Speed Limits (due March 2026), but they’re no longer locked into speed limits dictated by current driver behavior.
How the New Laws Change Enforcement
Warning Period for New Lower Limits
When a speed limit drops under AB 1014, you get a 30-day grace period—but only for modest violations.
If you’re going 10 mph or less over the new limit during the first 30 days, officers must issue a warning citation instead of a fine. This applies only to non-freeway roads where the lower limit is based on a proper engineering survey.
Go 11+ mph over during the grace period, or speed after the 30 days, and you face normal penalties.
Automated Enforcement Expands
Beyond work zone cameras, California is expanding red-light camera programs under Senate Bill 720, which takes effect in 2026.
Local jurisdictions can opt into using automated traffic enforcement for red-light violations, with:
- Civil penalties capped at $100 (versus nearly $500 for traditional red-light tickets)
- Citations based on rear license plate photos only (no face photos)
- Clear signage warning of camera enforcement
- Administrative hearing and appeals processes
- Revenue directed to street safety improvements, not general funds
The expansion reflects California’s shift toward technology-based enforcement to reduce officer workload and increase consistency.
What Penalties Apply for Speeding Violations?
Standard speeding penalties in California depend on how much you exceed the limit:
1-15 MPH Over:
- Base fine: $35
- Total with fees: Approximately $230+
16-25 MPH Over:
- Base fine: $70
- Total with fees: Approximately $360+
26+ MPH Over:
- Base fine: $100+
- Total with fees: Approximately $480+
100+ MPH (Excessive Speed):
- Potential criminal charges under California Vehicle Code Section 22348(b)
- Enhanced penalties including license suspension
These amounts increase in school zones and construction zones. Automated work zone citations under AB 289 use a different fee structure ($50-$500) and don’t add license points—but they’re still legally enforceable debts.
License Points:
Most speeding violations add 1 point to your driving record. Points affect insurance rates and can trigger license suspension:
- 4 points in 12 months = license suspension
- 6 points in 24 months = license suspension
- 8 points in 36 months = license suspension
Florida Takes the Opposite Approach: Criminal Penalties for Extreme Speeding
While California focuses on lower limits and automated enforcement, Florida enacted House Bill 351 in July 2025, making excessive speeding a criminal offense.
Driving 50+ mph over the limit OR exceeding 100 mph is now criminal, not just a traffic infraction:
First Offense:
- Up to 30 days in jail
- $500 fine
- Or both
Repeat Violation Within 5 Years:
- Up to 90 days in jail
- $1,000 fine
- License suspension up to 1 year
Florida’s approach criminalizes dangerous high-speed driving rather than lowering limits or adding cameras. The law targets the state’s busy highways where speed-related fatalities have risen significantly.
Other States Considering Speed Limit Changes in 2026
Several states are debating speed limit legislation for 2026:
Arizona (HB 2059 – “RAPID Act”): Proposes eliminating speed limits entirely on select rural interstates, similar to Montana’s former “reasonable and prudent” rule. Supporters argue this acknowledges the difference between crowded urban freeways and wide-open rural highways.
Mississippi: Considering raising rural interstate speed limits from 70 mph to 75 mph, with potential 80 mph limits on toll roads.
New Mexico: Proposed lowering truck speed limits to 65 mph (from 75 mph) on major highways to reduce speed differentials, though the state DOT warned this could increase crashes.
North Carolina: Bipartisan bill would raise interstate speed limits to 75 mph on highways like I-95, I-40, and I-87 in areas where higher speeds are deemed appropriate.
These proposals reflect ongoing debates about whether speed limits should increase on modern highways or decrease in populated areas for safety.
Your Rights During Traffic Stops for Speeding
Even with new speed limits, your constitutional rights during traffic stops remain unchanged:
Fourth Amendment Protections:
- Officers must have reasonable suspicion you violated traffic law to initiate a stop
- Radar/laser speed detection must meet calibration and certification standards
- You can request to see the radar reading (though officers aren’t always required to show it)
- Officers cannot search your vehicle without consent, probable cause, or a warrant
Right to Contest Citations:
- You can fight speeding tickets in traffic court
- Challenge the accuracy of speed detection equipment
- Question whether the officer properly calibrated radar/laser devices
- Argue the speed limit sign was obscured or improperly posted
- Present evidence the officer misidentified your vehicle
For Automated Enforcement (Work Zone/Red-Light Cameras):
- You receive citations by mail, not during a traffic stop
- The registered owner is liable, even if not driving
- Administrative hearing process allows you to contest
- You can argue misidentification of vehicle, signage issues, or equipment malfunction
- No driver’s license points for camera-based civil penalties
What Drivers Need to Do Right Now
1. Watch for New Speed Limit Signs
Pay attention to changing speed limits, especially on highways and in school zones. Don’t assume limits are the same as last year.
2. Slow Down in Work Zones
Work zone camera enforcement is live as of January 1, 2026. Even 11 mph over the limit triggers a $50 fine. Watch for warning signs about camera enforcement.
3. Budget an Extra 30 Seconds for School Zones
The difference between 25 mph and 20 mph in a school zone is roughly 6 seconds per block. Plan accordingly to avoid violations.
4. Know the Grace Period Doesn’t Apply Everywhere
The 30-day warning period for new lower limits applies only to speed reductions under AB 1014 on non-freeway roads. It doesn’t apply to:
- Work zone speed cameras
- School zones
- Freeway speed limits
- Traditional speed enforcement
5. Don’t Assume Points for Every Ticket
Work zone camera tickets are civil penalties without points. Traditional speeding tickets add points. Know which type you received before deciding whether to contest or pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will insurance rates go up from work zone camera tickets?
Not directly. Since AB 289 camera tickets are civil penalties without license points, they shouldn’t automatically affect insurance. However, some insurers may still consider payment history when setting rates.
Q: Can I get a ticket if someone else was driving my car?
For automated camera enforcement, yes—the registered owner receives the citation regardless of who was driving. You can contest it through administrative hearings by identifying the actual driver or providing evidence you weren’t responsible.
Q: How do I know if a speed limit was officially lowered?
Look for posted speed limit signs. AB 1014 requires proper signage, and agencies must document changes in engineering surveys. If a sign isn’t posted, the speed limit hasn’t legally changed.
Q: What if I get a warning citation during the 30-day grace period?
Keep it. Warning citations document that you were stopped but not fined. If you receive a regular citation later for the same speed, the warning may help show you weren’t aware of the new limit.
Q: Are school zones 20 mph everywhere now?
Not yet. Through January 2031, only cities/counties that pass local ordinances have 20 mph school zones. After January 1, 2031, all school zones default to 20 mph statewide where properly signed.
Q: Can I fight a speeding ticket if the officer used radar?
Yes. You can challenge radar accuracy, calibration records, officer certification, whether the radar targeted your vehicle correctly, and whether conditions affected the reading (heavy traffic, weather, nearby metal objects).
Q: Do work zone cameras operate 24/7?
No. Cameras are active only while construction work is underway. They’re removed or deactivated when projects finish or workers aren’t present.
Q: What happens if I ignore an automated camera ticket?
Like any unpaid fine, it can result in collections, additional penalties, vehicle registration holds, and eventually license suspension for failure to pay.
Official Resources:
- California Highway Patrol (CHP): www.chp.ca.gov
- California Department of Transportation (Caltrans): dot.ca.gov
- California DMV: www.dmv.ca.gov
- California Vehicle Code: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- Work Zone Safety Information: www.workzonesafety.org
Key Legislation:
- Assembly Bill 1014 (Speed limit reductions)
- Assembly Bill 382 (School zone speed limits)
- Assembly Bill 289 (Work zone speed cameras)
- Senate Bill 720 (Red-light camera expansion)
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Speed limit laws vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Traffic enforcement procedures, penalties, and court processes differ across California. Always verify current speed limits through posted signage and consult with a qualified traffic attorney for personalized guidance regarding specific citations or legal matters.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
Read more about Sarah