Traffic Safety Cameras
Begin in January 2011

The City has given the green light to its new Safety Camera Pilot Program.  The program will run for one year beginning with a 30-day warning period on January 2011.  At the end of 2011, the City will evaluate its effectiveness and determine whether it will become permanent.

This program will install safety cameras at three intersections and in one school zone within Redmond.  Earlier this year, the City performed a study at several intersections and school zones and identified those in the pilot program as needing additional enforcement.

The location of the intersection cameras will be eastbound at 148th Avenue NE and Redmond Way, eastbound and westbound at 156th Avenue NE and NE 40th Street and westbound and northbound at Union Hill Road and Avondale Road.  The study showed these intersections averaged over 600 vehicles running a red light per month.

The school zone safety camera will be installed eastbound and westbound in front of Einstein Elementary on NE 116th Street in north Redmond.  Here the speeding violations (at least 26 mph in a 20 mph school zone) averaged almost 1000 per month.

“The City of Redmond is committed to the safety of the community and these violations are a clear threat to public safety,” stated Mayor John Marchione.  “The goal of this safety camera program is to change dangerous driver behavior, reduce preventable collisions at signalized intersections and prevent car-pedestrian collisions in school zones.”

A national study indicates over 65 percent of all vehicles travel at least 10 mph over the posted school zone speed.  While a pedestrian has an almost 90 percent survival rate at 20 mph; hit at 30 mph, a pedestrian has less than a 30 percent chance of surviving.

The program begins in January 2011 with warnings being issued until February.  The fee for each violation is $124.  Because the violation is a civil infraction, it is not reported to insurance companies or the Washington State Department of Motor Vehicles.

“The revenue generated by fees will be used to support the program itself,” stated Police Commander Shari Shovlin.  “Should the revenue collected exceed the cost of the program, the money will be used only for public safety related programs or services.”

The City has developed an informational brochure (link to the brochure) including an insert with frequently asked questions. 

More Info: www.redmond.gov/safetycameras

Safety Camera Program Goal

The City of Redmond is committed to the safety of the community and these violations are a clear threat to public safety.  The goal of Redmond’s red light and school speed zone camera safety program is to modify dangerous driver behavior, reduce preventable collisions at signalized intersections and prevent car-pedestrian accidents in school zones.