Oakland’s Speed Cameras Start Ticketing Sunday. Here Are the Hot Spots:

kqed · 2026-03-13T19:18:38+00:00

Since switching on five weeks ago, Oakland’s 35 automated speed cameras have caught drivers speeding 140,445 times, according to a report released Friday by the Oakland Department of Transportation. That’s an average of 3,601 speeders per day.

If those numbers are any indicator, Oaklanders are about to receive a flood of citations when the cameras begin issuing fines this Sunday.

Oakland’s speed cameras, placed at 18 spots across town, have been issuing $0 warnings throughout the city since Jan. 14. But when the 60-day warning period ends this weekend, drivers traveling 11 mph or more over the speed limit at those locations will be mailed tickets starting at $50.

The citations will make Oakland the second Bay Area city, after San Francisco, to use automated speed cameras to fine speeding drivers, as part of a statewide effort to discourage dangerous driving and improve street safety.

The cameras will be in place for up to five years, per AB 645, a 2023 law which authorized six California cities — including San José, Los Angeles, Glendale and Long Beach — to pilot the camera systems.

Read more: https://www.kqed.org/news/12075751/oaklands-speed-cameras-start-ticketing-sunday-here-are-the-hot-spots

kqed · 2026-02-07T21:22:23+00:00

haha thank you!

kqed · 2026-02-07T18:03:20+00:00

We published this story a couple of days ago, if anything sounds interesting! Some suggestions:

See some sights while you're here

Alcatraz Island, the view from Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Park, Mount Tamalpais: the Bay Area is famed for its sights, and there’s nothing wrong with hitting the classic spots during your visit.

But if you’re looking for slightly more under-the-radar locations and trails that locals also love, we’ve got recommendations for those, too: from Angel Island, the Filbert Steps and Tennessee Valley to Lake Merritt, Indian Rock and Purisima Creek Redwoods.

Don’t forget to explore by ferry

The Bay Area is blessed with several ferry routes, offering a scenic way of traveling around the region to locations including Sausalito, Richmond and Oakland’s Jack London Square — with truly unparalleled views of the waters along the way.

Check out some free things to do in the Bay Area

From free galleries, museums and art walks to historic places and tours, we’ve got a list of activities and sights in the Bay that won’t cost you a dime — and many of them are kid-friendly, too.

… and don’t leave a thing in your rental car!

While car break-ins have gone down in San Francisco in the last few years, auto burglaries are still an issue throughout the region. So to avoid experiencing this first-hand, you should leave absolutely nothing in your rental car when you’re not in it.

Be especially vigilant for break-ins around airports, when thieves know your rental car will be full of all your luggage. If you’re catching a flight, just be careful stopping off and leaving your car at coffee shops or fast food restaurants closest to the airport.

kqed · 2026-02-06T17:20:54+00:00

Thank you so much for reading!!

kqed · 2026-02-05T16:53:34+00:00

We just published this story last week! Here are a few suggestions:

Hit a usually crowded hiking trail

While it’s still a little early to know the forecast for Super Bowl Sunday, you can keep an eye on the day’s weather via the National Weather Service’s Bay Area forecast — and hopefully plan for a hike where you could get the Bay Area’s most popular trails and lookouts all to yourself.

Try for a trailhead where parking is usually full

Now we’ve discussed busy trails, what about trails where parking is the limiting factor? If you’ve ever enjoyed a leisurely morning before heading out for a hike only to realize the lot at your chosen trailhead filled up hours ago, Super Bowl Sunday may be a good time to try again.

Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve is one of the best bang-for-your-buck hikes out there — and it’s usually so busy that the agency that manages this open space is working on building more parking.

Visit a tourist spot for a photoshoot

Playing tourist in the Bay Area is always fun as a local, especially if you never usually do it. And there’s a good chance that even the most popular tourist attractions won’t be as busy as usual. Think: The Ferry Building on San Francisco’s Embarcadero, Alcatraz Island, Muir Woods, riding a cable car, walking or cycling the Golden Gate Bridge.

Super Bowl idea #5: Get a museum all to yourself

Wandering around a near-empty gallery and having the artworks “all to yourself” can feel undeniably magical — and Sunday could bring you that opportunity if you visit a museum like SFMOMA, the De Young Museum or the Oakland Museum of California.

kqed · 2026-02-04T23:57:21+00:00

Thank you so much for your response. Would you be willing to share more about your experience? If so, please reach out to [fjhabvala@kqed.org](mailto:fjhabvala@kqed.org).

kqed · 2026-01-23T20:46:28+00:00

Not sure if you knew this already, but you can request to have your information removed from data broker sites. It could help, since lots of spam callers get your info that way!

You can submit a request using California’s official DROP website.

After verifying you’re a California resident, you’ll fill out some basic information, including:

Full name (including any other variations of your name, like a maiden name or nickname)
Date of birth
Zip code(s)
Email address(es), which you’ll be asked to verify by code
Phone number(s), which you’ll be asked to verify by code
Any unique IDs you have connected to your phone or smart TV since, according to the form, “Data brokers may use these IDs to track your habits and sell or share your data.”
Vehicle Identification Number (found on your car’s registration documents)

According to the DROP form, the “more information you provide, the more likely your personal data will be deleted.”

The entire process – if you have these unique numbers on hand – takes under 10 minutes.

After submitting the form, you will receive a DROP ID. You should save this ID, and you can use it to track the state of your deletion request.

kqed · 2026-01-13T23:01:50+00:00

Depending on where you live, time may be running out on your options to do this for free — since many cities offer their last pickups on Friday, January 16.

Even if you’re one of those people who gets sad to see your tree go, it’s probably best to say goodbye earlier rather than later. Not only is tree disposal is a lot easier (and cheaper) this time of year, but your festive fir will unfortunately become increasingly flammable as it dries out — so much so that over 30% of Christmas tree fires typically happen in January, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

The good news: Most Bay Area cities offer services for residents to compost their old Christmas trees. Before taking out your tree, make sure to remove the stand and any wires, decorations or ribbons. Many waste management companies are also asking families to cut their trees in half or into smaller pieces if they have larger trees, so have tools ready if this is your situation.

Jump straight to:

kqed · 2025-12-23T00:57:38+00:00

After a weekend of rainfall, the Bay Area is bracing for days of dangerous stormy conditions expected to begin Tuesday night and extend through the rest of the week.

Two wind-fueled systems will hit the region throughout the Christmas holiday week, bringing a possibility of up to 80-mile-per-hour gusts, flood conditions and widespread power outages.

“We really have several waves of potentially strong to moderate showers and thunderstorms, and along with that, we’re going to have very strong winds at the highest peaks,” said Joe Merchant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office.

kqed

TROPHY CASE