The Seattle City Council’s transportation committee is expected to approve legislation Tuesday afternoon that will change the way the city can deploy and operate automated traffic cameras, clearing the road for the deployment of 19 new school safety zone cameras and opening the way for more cameras across the city.

If passed, it will go to a full vote of the council next week. CORRECTION: When originally posted, this report erroneously stated that Tuesday’s vote would be with the full council. It will be with the transportation committee with a full vote expected next week. Sorry for the mix-up.

The bill comes after changes in state law that allow cities to more easily deploy the cameras and removed requirements that the violations be monitored and issued by law enforcement. In addition to school and work zones, state changes also opened the way for Seattle to monitor and enforce block-the-box, transit lane and other restricted lane violations with camera technology.

CHS reported here last month on Seattle’s plans for new cameras including 19 new school safety zone cameras.

On Capitol Hill, drivers will encounter a new camera zone in front of 10th Ave E’s private Bertschi Elementary that will operate between 7:35AM-8:30AM and 2:35PM-3:35PM on school days. Nearby TOPS K-8 will also add a camera on Boylston Ave E  between E Lynn St and E Roanoke. “Flashing beacon schedules are adjusted for holidays, early release days, summer school, and other events,” the city notes.

The expansion will double the number of cameras in the city including existing speed cameras near Montlake Elementary and Garfield High School. CHS reported here in 2022 as the new camera system was put in place along 23rd near Garfield. The Montlake camera setup — the most prolific ticket issuer in Seattle — has been offline during that campus’s multi-year expansion. The school is expected to reopen in the fall.

Under the legislation lined up for approval Tuesday, Seattle will meet state requirements including an annual review of each camera in the system. Officials including transportation committee chair Rob Saka representing West Seattle have positioned the growing traffic camera program as temporary installations that will be reviewed and adjusted over time as driving patterns and behaviors change though no school traffic camera in the city has been removed once deployed.

The bill also changes the way revenue from the camera system will go into the city’s general fund and transportation programs. An amendment from Saka would earmark 15% of the revenue to the “construction and repair of sidewalks.

The city is also ready to move forward under new state law toward planning newly allowed speed detection cameras that can be installed near High Crash Risk Locations, Park and Hospital Zones, School Walk Routes, and Roadway Work Zones. SDOT officials say it is making plans to move forward with five locations for “full-time speed cameras” after a “safety and equity analysis.”

The changes in state law made the city’s previous plans for cameras deployed in areas identified as street racing areas illegal.

City analysis shows cameras make for safer streets. Beginning in 2006, Seattle began deployment of Red Light Cameras to reduce the frequency of red light running and associated collisions. Seattle now has 31 Red Light Cameras deployed. Revenues from Red Light Cameras support the City’s General Fund. Camera types including school zones have joined the system. Seattle has also deployed Block the Box Cameras at six intersections and Transit Lane Enforcement Cameras at six locations.

The new legislation will also change city policy to establish 30-day “warnings only” period upon activation for all camera types, except school zone deployments.

New policies are also hoped to address policy concerns including restrictions to recording only vehicles and license plates — and not driver faces. Existing law will also restrict use of the images “or any purpose other than enforcing traffic violations,” the city says.

Fines are capped at $145 under state law except for in school zones where violations can cost up to $290.

City analysis shows officials are expecting about $2 million in revenue to be generated by the cameras in 2025.

SDOT longer-term plans include creating a “single holistic program” to administrate the technology.

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