Stealth Police Cars & Speed Cameras: The Future of Policing in Los Angeles?
Is This About Safety — Or Surveillance?
Los Angeles drivers, listen up.
The way we’re being policed on the road is about to change — and not in a way that promotes transparency or trust.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) just rolled out a fleet of unmarked, low-profile patrol vehicles. These aren’t your typical black-and-white cruisers. These are stealth cars, painted in factory colors to blend in with traffic.
- No markings.
- No light bars.
- No obvious signs they’re law enforcement — until it’s too late.
They’re calling it a response to “reckless” or “video game-style” driving.
But let’s be real. This is a massive shift toward secretive enforcement, with zero transparency and little accountability. And that’s just the beginning.
Automated Speed Cameras Coming in 2026
Starting in 2026, Los Angeles will begin installing speed enforcement cameras throughout high-risk intersections and corridors as part of Assembly Bill 645 — a pilot program passed in 2023.
This law allows six California cities —
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- Oakland
- San Jose
- Long Beach
- Glendale
to issue automated speeding tickets without any police officer present.
These cameras will snap a photo of your vehicle, log your speed, and send a ticket directly to your mailbox.
- No stop.
- No conversation.
- No real chance to contest the citation in the moment.
While these measures are being sold as “safety improvements,” we need to ask some hard questions.
The Real Questions We Should Be Asking:
- Are we prioritizing public safety or just expanding the state’s ability to surveil and fine people?
- How will these new technologies affect Black and brown communities already over-policed?
- What oversight is in place to prevent abuse or misuse of these systems?
- Who profits from these automated citations?
- Once this becomes normalized, what comes next?
San Francisco Is Already Doing It
San Francisco has already installed 33 speed cameras this year. Los Angeles is next in line. And with these changes, we’re entering a future where you can:
- Get pulled over by a car you didn’t know was CHP.
- Get a speeding ticket in the mail weeks after the incident.
- Have no idea who’s watching, and no say in how these tools are being used.
Final Thoughts from Mr. Checkpoint
If this was really about keeping people safe, why is it being done in secret?
When we allow law enforcement to operate from the shadows, we lose the very transparency that protects us. If we accept this now, where does it stop?
We need to stay loud. We need to stay questioning. And we need to always film the police.
I’m Mr. Checkpoint. This is why we do what we do. Always for the people.
What do you think?
Leave a comment below, share your thoughts, and help spread awareness.
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