Automated Traffic Enforcement

Contents

• Introduction
• Overview of Automated Traffic Enforcement
• Automated Traffic Enforcement in Washington
• Red Light Camera Programs - General  
• Washington Local Government Automated Safety Camera Programs
• Out of State Program Examples

Introduction

This page provides information about automated traffic enforcement systems using cameras. MRSC encourages jurisdictions to provide us with additional links or documents for this page. Contact Page Editor

Overview of Automated Traffic Enforcement

• Automated Enforcement, National Conference of State Legislatures
• Automated Traffic Law Enforcement Model Law, National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances
• PhotoCop Website - A private, non-commercial website providing research, management, and technical information about the photographic enforcement of traffic law  
• Speed Cameras: An Effectiveness and a Policy Review (), by David K. Willis, Center for Transportation Safety,  Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University System, Updated May 2006 - The report concludes that speeding enhances crash risk and severity and that speed cameras reduce both speeding and crash severity.  Implementation issues, however, are highly problematical, and a poorly implemented automated speed enforcement program can easily undermine public support.
• Tracking Traffic, by Mark Johnson, Planning, May 2007 - New cameras spot speeders — and raise questions about "Big Brother." (Available through MRSC Library Loan)

Automated Traffic Enforcement in Washington

Following several years of study, the 2005 Washington state legislature authorized the use of automated traffic safety cameras.

• Laws of 2005, ch. 167 (ESSB 5060) ()
• RCW 46.63.170 - Traffic Safety Cameras
• New Law Allows Cities to Use Red-light Cameras (),  T2 Bulletin, Fall 2005
• Automated Traffic Safety Cameras - Washington State Department of Transportation
• Photo Enforcement Law is Under Scrutiny, AWC Interim Legislative Bulletin No. 3, August 11, 2010 (Middle of page)

Red Light Camera Programs - General

• Effects of Red Light Camera Enforcement on Fatal Crashes in Large US Cities (), Wen Hu, Anne T. McCartt, and Eric R. Teoh, Insurance Institute for Highway Saafety, February 2011
  • Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, News Release, February 1, 2011 - Camera enforcement in 14 large cities reduces rate of fatal red light running crashes by 24 percent - Page includes liks to Status Report and Research Report,  
• Federal Highway Administration Stop Red Light Running Program
• A Before-and-After Study on Red-Light Camera Installation (), ITE Journal, March 2003. pp. 28-32. © 2003 Institute of Transportation Engineers. Used by permission.
• The Impact of Red-Light Camera Enforcement on Crash Experience (), ITE Journal, March 2003. pp. 44-48. © 2003 Institute of Transportation Engineers. Used by permission.
• Issues Related to Red-Light Camera Enforcement System, ITE Journal, July 2008 - Posted on All Business (Also available through MRSC Library Loan)
• Making Intersections Safer: A Toolbox of Engineering Countermeasures to Reduce Red-Light Running, Federal Highway Administration, Institute of Transportation Engineers, 2003
• Q&A on Red Light Cameras, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 12/2009 
• Red Light Camera Systems Operational Guidelines (),  Federal Highway Administration National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,  January 2005  

Washington Local Government Automated Safety Camera Programs

• Auburn PhotoSAFE Auburn
  • Auburn Municipal Code Ch. 10.42 - Automated Traffic Enforcement
• Bellevue Photo Enforcement
  • Bellevue Municipal Code Ch. 11.49 - Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
• Bellingham
• Bellingham Municipal Code Ch. 11.16 - Automated Safety Cameras Bellingham
• Bellingham Initiative 2011-01 () - Removal of Traffic Safety Cameras
• American Traffic Solutions v. City of Bellingham, ___ Wn. App. ___ (09/06/2011) - Initiative No. 2011-01 exceeds the lawful scope of local initiative power; it is not a valid ballot measure
• Bonney Lake Ordinance No. 1196 () - Automated Traffic Safety Cameras, passed 07/2006
• Bremerton Municipal Code Ch. 10.42 - Automated Safety Cameras
• Burien Red Light Cameras
  • Burien Municipal Code Sec. 10.05.070 - Automated Traffic Safety Systems
• Everett Municipal Code Ch. 46.84 - Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
• Federal Way Municipal Code Sec. 8.05.090 - Authority for Local Use of Automated Safety Cameras
• Fife
  • Red Light Photo Enforcement and You, Fife Police Department
  • Fife Municipal Code Ch. 10.60 - Automated Traffic Enforcement
• Issaquah Ordinance No. 2526  () - Automatic Traffic Safety Cameras, passed 07/2007 
• Lacey Ordinance No. 1290  () - Automatic Traffic Safety Cameras, passed 08/2007
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• Lake Forest Park Municipal  Code Ch. 10.60 - Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
• Lynnwood Traffic Safety Camera System
  • Municipal Code Ch. 11.18 - Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
• Monroe Ordinance No. 202-2007 (), 02/2007
• Moses Lake Municipal Code Ch. 10.48 () - Automated Traffic Enforcement
• Mukilteo Agenda Bill 2010-12 (), July 19, 2010,  Mukilteo Initiative No. 2 and Voter Pamphlet Committee
• Puyallup Municipal Code Ch. 10.33 - Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
• Redmond Traffic Safety Cameras, 02/2011 - Pilot Program
• SeaTac Ordinance 06-1025 (), 11/2006
• Seattle
  • Seattle Ordinance No. 121944, 09/2005
  • Red-Light Cameras, Seattle Police Department
  • Traffic Camera Ticket Information, Seattle Municipal Court
  • New Red Light Cameras Catch Bad Drivers In Act: City launches pilot program at four intersections around the city, Press Release, 06/22/2006
  • Seattle Red Light Photo Enforcement Program (), Seattle Municipal Court 
• Spokane Municipal Code Ch. 16A.64 - Automated Traffic Camera Systems
• Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 11.60 ()- Automated Traffic Camera Systems, 04/2007
• Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 9.97 - Automated Traffic Enforcement
• Wenatchee Automated Traffic Safety Program
• Yakima - Council considered red light camera enforcement program at meeting of  May 4,  2010 - See May 4, 2010 Council meeting agenda packet ( 11 MB), for Public Safety Committee report (p. 45 - Includes memoranda from attorney, police and court)

• Boulder, CO Boulder Photo Radar, Boulder Public Works
• Fremont, CA Red Light Cameras, Fremont Police Department
• Montgomery County, MD Red Light Enforcement Cameras, Department of Public Works and Transportation
• Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division Photo Radar
• Toronto, ON Red Light Camera Program