Washington cities debate automated traffic camera enforcement

Municipalities in Washington are evaluating different approaches to automated traffic enforcement.

The Oak Harbor City Council expressed reluctance toward implementing an automated traffic camera program during a recent workshop. While Police Chief Tony Slowik presented a proposal for cameras in school and park zones to detect speeding, council members voiced concerns regarding the potential cost, estimated at approximately $40,000 per month for up to 10 cameras. Instead of automation, the council indicated a preference for additional traffic data, active police enforcement, and one-time traffic-calming measures.

In Edmonds, the City Council is considering expanding existing school zone speed camera operations to 24-hour enforcement. Currently, cameras operate for only 90 minutes daily during school drop-off and pick-up periods. City staff reported that since the program's inception in 2023, violations have decreased by at least 50%. The proposed expansion includes a tiered fine structure for speeding, with Mayor Mike Rosen emphasizing that the primary focus of the discussion is pedestrian and student safety rather than revenue generation.