SF speed cameras now in use; warnings to be given out for 2 months before citations

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Drivers may hate it, pedestrians may love it, but the use of speed cameras on San Francisco city streets is now a reality.

On Thursday, some of the 33 new cameras turned on. Once all 33 cameras are turned on, a two-month warning period will begin. After that, citations will be given and it could hit your wallet hard.

SFMTA has a map of the locations and details from each location.

Patrick Banta says cars go very fast down Harrison Street in between 4th and 5th outside his auto repair shop.

"You can see, that guy's going too fast, that guy's going too fast, that guy's going too fast. You can just count them," Banta said.

For Jenny Yu, the wait has been more than a decade in the making. Back in 2011, her then 60-year-old mother was hit by a speeding driver while crossing the street.

MORE: Speeding in San Francisco? 'Say cheese' for cameras at 33 intersections activating soon

Speed safety cameras that will automatically send drivers tickets ranging from $50 to $500 are being installed at 33 intersections around San Francisco and are expected to be turned on in March.

"Now, she suffers from chronic brain injury. She's suicidal. She's depressed. She's not really my mother, but physically she's still here," Yu said.

Yu is one of dozens of people who turned out Thursday morning for the cameras official unveiling ceremony.

At the end the two-month warning period, fines ranging anywhere from $10 to $500 will be automatically sent to drivers breaking the law. The SFTMA estimates they will give out somewhere in the neighborhood of 42,000 citations every day.

"There's also really big signage at all the locations. We're trying to educate people. We're trying to prevent speeding," said SFMTA transportation director, Julie Kirschbaum.

San Francisco is the first city in California to set up these speed cameras, and SFMTA says more will likely come in the future.

"Collecting data, we're documenting our experience and our goal is to eventually help cities throughout California implement this important safety tool," Kirschbaum said.

MORE: Here's how much money SF's 33 new speed cameras are expected to generate in fines

Fines will start being mailed after cameras are installed at 33 locations in San Francisco that have had the most reported speeding accidents.

Mayor Daniel Lurie says more people died from traffic related incidents than homicides in the city last year. He believes the cameras are another tool to help increase public safety.

"These cameras will help our city's resources go further. And SFMTA will collaborate with our police department on a holistic approach to punish and prevent egregious speeding," Lurie said.

A step in the right direction, for people like Yu, who want to see preventable deaths on our streets stopped for good.

"I've been an advocate to really see how we can get solutions that have proven to work to our streets, so that no other family will have to go through what my mother and I are going through," Yu said.

Not everyone is on board at speed camera location on Geary Street between 7th and 8th. This is a spot expected to generate more than 4,000 citations daily which could end up being the most in all of San Francisco.

"I don't like the idea of a flash and you get a ticket in the mail," Sophie Rehlaender said. "Ticketing the people that can't afford to be ticketed routinely and the tickets aren't cheap, the tickets here are pretty nasty."

Your best bet is to slow down and if you see a black camera setup, know that it's tracking your vehicle's speed when you come through.