Automated Traffic Enforcement

Contents

• Overview of Automated Traffic Enforcement
• Automated Traffic Enforcement in Washington
• Red Light Camera Programs - General  
• Local Government Automated Safety Camera Programs

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

Overview of Automated Traffic Enforcement

• Automated Traffic Enforcement - NCSL Transportation Reviews, Updated 4-04
• Automated Traffic Law Enforcement Model Law - National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances
• Overview of Automated Enforcement in Transportation ( 92 KB), Turner and Polk, ITE Journal, June 1998. FHMA See References on Page 27.
• PhotoCop Web Site  - A private, non-commercial web site providing research, management, and technical information about the photographic enforcement of traffic law  
• Speed Cameras: An Effectiveness and a Policy Review ( 88 KB) 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."

Automated Traffic Enforcement in Washington

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

• Ch 167 Laws of 2005 (ESSB 5060) ( 20 KB)
• RCW 46.63.170 - Traffic Safety Cameras
• New Law Allows Cities to Use Red-light Cameras ( 86 KB),  T2 Bulletin, Fall 2005 

Red Light Camera Programs - General

• Federal Highway Administration Stop Red Light Running Program
  • Stop Redlight Program Reports and Articles
  • Stop Redlight Program Useful Links
• "A Before-and-After Study on Red-Light Camera Installation,' (248 KB) 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," ( 282 KB) ITE Journal, March 2003. pp. 44-48. © 2003 Institute of Transportation Engineers. Used by permission.
• 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, January 2007 
• Red Light Camera Systems Operational Guidelines, Federal Highway Administration National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,  January 2005  
• Red Light Running, Research and Statistics Topics - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Local Government Automated Safety Camera Programs

• Washington State
  • Bonney Lake - Ordinance No. 1196  ( 21 KB) - Automatic Traffic Safety Cameras, passed 7-06 
  • Issaquah - Ordinance No. 2526  ( 20 KB) - Automatic Traffic Safety Cameras, passed 7-07 
  • Lacey - Ordinance No. 1290  ( 149 KB) - Automatic Traffic Safety Cameras, passed 8-07 
  • Monroe Ordinance No. 202-2007 ( 19 KB), 2-07
  • Moses Lake Municipal Code Ch. 10.48 ( 16 KB) - Automated Traffic Enforcement
  • SeaTac Ordinance 06-1025 ( 23 KB), 11-06
  • Seattle
    • Seattle Ordinance No. 121944, 9-05
    • New Red Light Cameras Catch Bad Drivers In Act: City launches pilot program at four intersections around the city, Press Release 6-22-06
    • Seattle Red Light Photo Enforcement Program ( 359 KB) - Seattle Municipal Court 
    • Traffic Camera Ticket Information - Seattle Municipal Court
  • Spokane
  • Spokane Municipal Code Section 16.64.210 - Authorized Use of Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
  • Spokane Municipal Code Section 16.64.220  - Procedures of Use of Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
  • Tacoma Municipal Code, Ch. 11.60 - Automated Traffic Camera Systems, 4-07
• Non Washington
  • Boulder, Colorado - Boulder Photo Radar -  Boulder Public Works
  • Charlotte, North Carolina - Safelight Program - Charlotte Department of Transportation
  • Fremont, California - Red Light Cameras - Fremont Police Department
  • Montgomery County, Maryland - Red Light Enforcement Cameras -  Department of Public Works and Transportation
  • Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division Photo Radar
  • Toronto, Ontario - Red Light Camera Program