Right now those automatic ticket-dispensing cameras are illegal in California, but San Francisco is making a big push in the state legislature to make them legal in that city and to reduce the speed limit throughout the town to 20 mph. They claim that they have a speeding problem in San Francisco. That is very surprising as traffic is constantly jammed, with traffic signals at almost every intersection, and it is tough to average 10 mph during most daylight and evening hours. Clearly what they really want is to collect more money than they already do from vehicle drivers visiting the city. San Francisco has so many expensive "progressive" social programs going on that they are always short of money and constantly need more and are willing to get it from every source that they can dream up. And they see speed cameras as being another goose that lays golden eggs. I sure hope that they fail in their effort.
I don't envy you Bill having to dodge those things while riding around your area.
The cameras aren't illegal. The law clearly stated that they could not be operated by a for profit corporation. So what did they do? They installed them statewide and had a for profit corporation operate them. As soon as a judge found out, he threw out all of the previous convictions. The state lost millions so now they are scared to try it again.
Where San Francisco really has a problem is red light runners and crosswalk violators. The SFPD had a sting operation where a plain clothes officer would stand near the curb, then when a car was inches from the crosswalk the officer would step off the curb. Another one would take a picture and issue the ticket. I think video cameras have reduced the number of those scams.