Automated Traffic Enforcement

Contents

• 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

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 Enforcement- National Conference of State Legislatures
• Automated Traffic Law Enforcement Model Law - National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances
• 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."  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.  

• 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
• 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

• Federal Highway Administration Stop Red Light Running Program
• 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.
• Issues Related to Red-Light Camera Enforcement System, ITE Journal, July 2008  - Posted on All Business  Also available as 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, December 2009 
• Red Light Camera Systems Operational Guidelines (1.33 MB),  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
• Bonney Lake - Ordinance No. 1196  ( 21 KB) - Automated Traffic Safety Cameras, passed 7-06 
• Bremerton Municipal Code Ch. 10.42 - Automated Safety Cameras 
• Burien - Red Light Cameras
  • Burien Municipal Code Section 10.05.070  - Automated Traffic Safety Systems
• Everett Municipal Code Ch. 46.84 - Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
• Federal Way Municipal Code Section 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  ( 20 KB) - Automatic Traffic Safety Cameras, passed 7-07 
• Lacey - Ordinance No. 1290  ( 149 KB) - Automatic Traffic Safety Cameras, passed 8-07
  • 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 ( 19 KB), 2-07
• Moses Lake Municipal Code Ch. 10.48 ( 16 KB) - Automated Traffic Enforcement
• Mukilteo - Agenda Bill 2010-12 ( 95 KB), July 19, 2010,  Mukilteo Initiative No. 2 and Voter Pamphlet Committee
• Puyallup Municipal Code Ch. 10.33 - Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
• SeaTac Ordinance 06-1025 ( 23 KB), 11-06
• Seattle
  • Seattle Ordinance No. 121944, 9-05
  • 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 6-22-06
  • Seattle Red Light Photo Enforcement Program ( 359 KB) - Seattle Municipal Court 
• Spokane Municipal Code Chapter 16A.64  - Automated Traffic Camera Systems
• Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 11.60 ( 439 KB)- Automated Traffic Camera Systems, 4-07
• Vancouver Municipal Code Chapter 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 ( 11.94 MB) for Public Safety Committee report ( p. 45 - includes memoranda from attorney, police and court).

• Boulder, Colorado - Boulder Photo Radar -  Boulder Public Works
• 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