The Seattle City Council approved legislation Tuesday that paves the way for increased use of automated speed cameras in an attempt to crack down on street racing.
- Seattle has used automated traffic safety cameras since 2006 to enforce red light laws, school zone speeding, bridge closure restrictions, transit-only lanes, and “block the box” rules.
- The city wants to use more cameras to help address several areas impacted by street racing. A woman driving last week near Alki Beach was hit by another car reportedly going at a “high rate of speed,” and the impact sent her vehicle into the water.
- “This technology is another tool in our tool belt to reduce collisions and save lives on some of our city’s most dangerous roadways,” Seattle councilmember Alex Pedersen, who co-sponsored the bill, said during Tuesday’s meeting.
Seattle uses speed cameras manufactured by Verra Mobility, a publicly traded company based near Phoenix.
- The cameras feature a roadside radar-based system that measures the speed of a vehicle. It captures photo and video of the vehicle and license plate if the speed exceeds a limit set by the city.
- The system does not activate unless a vehicle is traveling over a speed limit, and photos are typically taken from the rear of a vehicle, Verra Mobility spokesperson Ray Pedrosa told GeekWire.
The legislation incorporates new Washington state provisions that expanded authority for municipalities to use automated traffic cameras to enforce maximum speed limits. City lawmakers will now need to figure out implementation, cost, revenue allocation, and an equity analysis.
- Automated speed cameras sparked controversy in Chicago, where the devices disproportionately ticketed Black and Latino motorists, according to a ProPublica report. A separate analysis found similar trends in Seattle.
- Councilmember Kshama Sawant was the lone “no” vote on the bill, saying that it would disproportionately punish poor and working class drivers. She suggested a tiered ticketing system that would be based on a driver’s income.
- Seattle councilmember Lisa Herbold, the other co-sponsor of the bill, said the city’s department of transportation could theoretically set policy that would only trigger the new cameras in racing zones for higher speeds, versus just going a few miles per hour over the speed limit.
“Race and Social Justice Initiative implications will need to be considered in developing an implementation plan to ensure that installation of cameras does not disproportionately impact vulnerable or disadvantaged communities,” according to a summary note for Seattle’s legislation.
- Increased use of automated traffic cameras “may reduce reliance on traffic stops and subsequent police officer interactions for traffic enforcement,” and “may reduce the potential for racial profiling,” according to the summary note.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee last month said speed-enforcement cameras should be added to state highways to help address increased traffic deaths related to speeding and driving under the influence.
- “I believe Washingtonians now understand that cameras are almost ubiquitous in our life,” Inslee said. “It shouldn’t be a concern if you have one on [Interstate-5], when you’ve got one in every store you walk into, and every bank you walk into, and every sidewalk you walk in.”
- “Though many voters are offended by electronically-generated citations, and state surveillance in general, the three-term governor will retire after 2024 and sounded like somebody with nothing to lose,” wrote Seattle Times reporter Mike Lindblom.
Here are the 10 designated racing zones:
- Alki Ave. SW between 63rd Ave SW and Harbor Ave. SW.
- Harbor Ave. SW between Alki Ave. SW and SW Spokane St.
- West Marginal Way SW between SW Spokane St and 2nd Ave SW.
- Sand Point Way NE between 38th Ave NE and NE 95th St.
- NE 65th St between Sand Point Way NE and Magnuson Park.
- Roadways inside Magnuson Park including, but not limited to, NE 65th St and Lake Shore Dr NE.
- Seaview Ave NW between Golden Gardens Park and 34th Ave NW.
- 3rd Ave NW between Leary Way NW and N 145th St.
- Martin Luther King Jr Way S between S Massachusetts St and S Henderson St.
- Rainier Ave S from S Jackson St south to the city limits.