CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to automated traffic safety cameras; establishing additional uses for automated traffic safety cameras to increase safety; authorizing qualified civilian employees to review violations detected by traffic cameras; updating finance and fund policies related to the use of camera revenues; amending Ordinance 124230; amending Sections 5.82.010, 11.31.020, 11.31.090, 11.31.121, and 11.50.570 of the Seattle Municipal Code; and repealing Section 11.50.580 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, excessive speeding by drivers is a root cause of many crashes, including crashes that result in death or serious injury of vulnerable travelers within City rights-of-way, including pedestrians, bicyclists, people with disabilities, children, and seniors; and
WHEREAS, serious crashes often result in lifelong injuries, chronic pain, permanent disabilities, chronic depression, and shortened lifespans, while serious and fatal crashes impact the victims, their families and other loved ones, their co-workers, and their greater communities; and
WHEREAS, it is often not safe, practical, or desirable to use police officers to enforce traffic laws, including speed limit violations; and
WHEREAS, numerous studies, and Seattle's own experience, have demonstrated significant reductions in speeds, crashes, and the number of drivers running red lights or violating school zone speed limits at enforcement camera locations; and
WHEREAS, since the start of Seattle's School Zone Speed Camera program, the City has seen a 71 percent drop in collisions during camera activation areas, a 64 percent drop in the average number of camera violations per day, and 90 percent of people who receive and pay camera citations do not receive another citation; at red light camera locations, crashes of all types have been substantially reduced compared to citywide averages, with five times the decrease i...
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