Malibu clarifies PCH Speed Camera Program as warning period nears

By The Malibu Times · Mon Aug 31 2026

Malibu clarifies PCH Speed Camera Program as warning period nears

City says cameras are not surveillance or Flock systems; warnings begin in late September, citations in late November

With Malibu’s long-awaited automated speed cameras along Pacific Coast Highway nearing activation, the City of Malibu is addressing questions about privacy, surveillance and enforcement while giving motorists a clearer timeline for when the new system will begin issuing warnings — and eventually citations.

The City announced this week that the 60-day warning period for the PCH Speed Safety System is expected to begin in late September 2026, with actual citations beginning in late November 2026.

The latest announcement is part of a public information and education campaign underway as installation of the system nears completion. City officials are emphasizing one key point: the cameras will not continuously record motorists traveling along PCH.

Instead, the system will only activate when it detects a vehicle traveling at least 11 mph above the posted speed limit.

City Addresses Surveillance Concerns

One of the primary concerns the City addressed involves comparisons between the new cameras and Automatic License Plate Reader systems, commonly known as ALPRs, including Flock camera systems.

According to the City, Malibu’s system operates differently.

The PCH cameras use lidar technology to measure vehicle speeds and do not begin recording until a qualifying speeding violation is detected. When that occurs, the system captures an image of the rear license plate of the speeding vehicle for purposes of processing the violation.

The City also says the system does not use facial recognition technology.

Vehicles traveling below the enforcement threshold will not be photographed by the system, and non-violation data is to be deleted immediately.

The clarification comes as Malibu prepares to introduce one of the most significant new enforcement tools on PCH in years.

Five Locations Along PCH

State law allows Malibu to operate up to five automated speed enforcement systems with a total of 10 cameras within the city limits.

The five locations previously identified by the City are:

Each location is expected to monitor both directions of travel. The locations were selected based on areas with high rates of speed-related collisions and fatalities.

The system was made possible by Senate Bill 1297, legislation authorizing automated speed enforcement along Malibu’s approximately 21-mile stretch of PCH.

What Happens When the Cameras Turn On?

Drivers will not immediately receive fines when the system becomes operational.

The first phase will be a 60-day warning period beginning in late September. Motorists who trigger the cameras during that period will receive warnings rather than monetary penalties.

Once the warning period concludes, the City expects enforcement to begin in late November.

At that point, qualifying violations will carry civil penalties. Importantly, citations issued through the automated system will not add points to a driver’s license or result in insurance penalties, according to the City.

The system begins enforcement at 11 mph over the posted speed limit. Under the program, the civil penalty starts at $50 for traveling 11 to 15 mph above the speed limit, with higher penalties applying at greater speeds under the state-authorized program.

Privacy Protections Built Into Program

The City is also responding directly to concerns that information collected by the cameras could become part of a broader government surveillance system.

Officials say data collected through the program will not be shared with other government agencies. Non-violation data will be deleted immediately, while records associated with actual violations will be destroyed within 60 days after thecase is resolved.

Personal information including names, addresses and license plate numbers will also be protected when the City publicly reports data about the program.

The City says the cameras are not intended to track where motorists travel and will not continuously scan license plates as vehicles move through Malibu.

City Says Program Is About Safety, Not Revenue

The City is also pushing back against concerns that the automated enforcement system is intended primarily to generate revenue.

According to the City, revenue generated by the program can be used to recover costs associated with operating the system, including equipment and staffing. Remaining funds may then be directed toward additional traffic-safety and traffic-calming measures on PCH in coordination with Caltrans.

The larger goal, officials say, is changing driver behavior.

That effort follows years of concern over speeding, serious crashes and fatalities on PCH.

According to City statistics, more than 60 people have died in traffic collisions along Malibu’s 21-mile stretch of PCH since 2010. In 2023 alone, 220 crashes were reported, resulting in 93 injuries and seven deaths.

The issue took on even greater urgency following the Oct. 17, 2023, crash that killed four Pepperdine University students — Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams — while they were walking along PCH.

Their deaths intensified calls from Malibu residents, city leaders, Pepperdine students and families for stronger measures to address excessive speeds along the highway and ultimately helped propel the state legislation allowing Malibu to implement automated speed enforcement.

Part of Broader PCH Safety Effort

The cameras represent one component of a larger effort to reduce collisions along PCH.

The City has also pursued increased Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department enforcement, contracted California Highway Patrol patrols, completed its PCH signal synchronization project and worked with Caltrans on roadway safety improvements.

The City reports that injury collisions have declined 22 percent while citations have increased 59 percent amid the broader enforcement and safety effort. Caltrans has also implemented approximately $4.2 million in safety improvements along the corridor.

As activation approaches, motorists can expect to see additional information from the City explaining camera locations, enforcement rules, privacy protections and the citation process.

For now, the message to motorists is straightforward: the cameras will not photograph every vehicle traveling through Malibu. But beginning in late September, drivers traveling at least 11 mph over the posted speed limit could trigger the system and receive a warning.

By late November, those warnings will become citations.

The City’s public information and education campaign will continue through the launch of the program.

More information about Malibu's PCH Speed Safety System is available through the City of Malibu PCH Speed Safety webpage.

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