Drivers in Edmonds could soon be ticketed for speeding in school zones at any hour of the day.
Drivers in Edmonds could soon be ticketed for speeding in school zones at any hour of the day.
The Edmonds City Council voted on Tuesday to keep school zone speed cameras running 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
City officials say the goal is to reduce speeding and crashes by issuing tickets even when school is not in session. The council voted to keep the cameras on near Chase Lake Elementary, Edmonds-Woodway High School, Scriber Lake High School and Westgate Elementary.
The city says it found thousands of drivers speeding through school zones during off-school hours. Officials hope higher fines will lead to more drivers slowing down.
A two-week study this summer found around 6,400 drivers would have been issued tickets for going at least 7 mph over the limit if the cameras had been operating all day and night.
Fines for speeding outside school hours would be $144. During school hours, the fine can be up to $290.
Edmonds officials estimate tickets from 24/7 school zone cameras would bring in about $1 million, money they say would be spent on the camera program and other traffic safety projects.
Some residents who live near the cameras support enforcement during school hours but oppose ticketing around the clock.
“People do rip through this street. There is a good reason to have that camera there during school hours, that’s for sure, and I encourage them keeping that camera there during school hours,” said Steve Kahle, who lives in Edmonds. “But not full time. Not full time. There is no need for it to be there all the time.”
Kahle also criticized the speed limit in the area.
“Twenty miles an hour is too low a limit to have in the neighborhood as I run out of my house to go to the grocery store. It’s a pain in the neck to have a camera taking a picture of me.”
The city has not announced when the cameras will begin issuing tickets day and night.
Officials said there will be a monthlong grace period when speeding drivers will receive warnings.
