Long Beach speed cameras send tickets by mail, with no traffic stop. Off The Record CEO Alex Guirguis explains what drivers should know before they pay.
Long Beach speed cameras are officially watching the road, and Pacific Coast Highway is next. The city’s automated system went live at 18 locations on Oct. 7, beginning with a 60-day warning period before fines take effect, and a new state law will soon bring cameras to the stretch of PCH that local leaders call the city’s most dangerous street.
Senate Bill 1279, authored by Sen. Lena Gonzalez and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 27, adds Long Beach’s portion of PCH to California’s speed safety camera pilot program and takes effect Jan. 1. The law allows the city to install two speed cameras along the highway, in addition to the 18 already authorized across Long Beach.
The cameras capture the rear license plate of any vehicle traveling 11 mph or more over the posted limit. Fines are set by state law at $50 for 11 to 15 mph over, $100 for 16 to 25 mph over, $200 for 26 mph or more over and $500 for driving 100 mph or more. The city also offers income-based reductions of 80% or 50%, payment plans and a community service option for eligible drivers.
How Long Beach Speed Cameras Ticket Without a Stop
For Alex Guirguis, co-founder and CEO of Off The Record, which connects drivers with local traffic attorneys to contest eligible citations, the biggest change is how the ticket arrives. “There’s no officer at your window. No traffic stop. No conversation. The citation just shows up in your mailbox,” he says.
Notices go to the registered owner of the vehicle, who may not be the person who was driving. “If you loaned your car to a friend or family member, you’re the one who gets the ticket,” Guirguis says. He notes that Long Beach’s camera citations are civil penalties, so they do not add points to a driver’s record or carry the same insurance consequences as a traditional speeding conviction, though he cautions drivers against ignoring them.
“Just because a camera captured it doesn’t mean it can’t be questioned.”
Alex Guirguis
Know Your Window to Challenge
Guirguis encourages drivers ticketed by Long Beach speed cameras to review every detail before paying, including whether the license plate matches their vehicle, whether the location, date and time are accurate, and what the photo actually shows. “Don’t assume the camera got it right, and don’t assume paying is your only option,” he says.
Timing matters. According to Guirguis, drivers cited by Long Beach speed cameras have 30 calendar days from the date the notice was mailed to request a free initial review, which means the clock starts before the ticket ever reaches the mailbox. If that review does not resolve it, drivers can request an administrative hearing. Off The Record, which reports a 97% success rate, lets drivers upload a photo of their ticket, answer a few questions and get matched with a local attorney who reviews the citation and handles the process, often without a court appearance.
Smart Money Moves Before You Pay
Because Long Beach speed cameras issue civil citations, the cost is mostly financial, though it can still add up quickly. “Three $200 camera tickets is still $600 out of pocket, and unpaid citations can escalate to collections or DMV holds,” Guirguis says. He also recommends that drivers check whether they qualify for California’s low-income reductions before paying.
Tickets written during a traditional traffic stop carry a heavier price. “A single speeding conviction can raise your insurance premiums by 27% on average,” he says. “That’s about $580 more per year, or roughly $1,750 over three years.” Those convictions also add points to a driver’s record, and enough points can put a license at risk.
“The number printed on the ticket is never the whole story.”
Alex Guirguis
Three Mistakes to Skip
Guirguis sees the same three mistakes again and again: paying without looking at the evidence, assuming the camera must be right, and setting the ticket aside until the deadline passes. He calls waiting the most expensive of the three. “Wait too long, and you’ve lost the opportunity to challenge it at all,” he says.
His advice for drivers navigating Long Beach speed cameras is to take every notice seriously without rushing to pay it. “Review the evidence, understand the deadline, and find out what options you have before making a decision,” he says. Locations, fines and payment options for Long Beach speed cameras are listed on the City of Long Beach’s program page.
About Off The Record
Off The Record connects drivers with experienced local traffic attorneys to fight traffic tickets and traffic misdemeanors. Co-founder and CEO Alex Guirguis leads the company. Learn more at offtherecord.com.
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