Slow down! More Seattle schools could get speed-enforced cameras
SEATTLE -- Five more Seattle schools could get speed-enforced cameras within the next year .
Bailey Gatzert Elementary on East Yesler Way, Dearborn Park Elementary on South Orcas Street, Nathan Eckstein Middle School on Northeast 75th Street, Roxhill Elementary on Southwest Roxbury Street and Holy Family Parish School on Southwest Roxbury Street are five proposed schools slated to get speed cameras. The schools would join the list of four area schools that installed traffic cameras as part of a pilot program in late 2012.
The new cameras are proposed for early 2014 and are part of a Seattle Department of Transportation report that will be reviewed by city leaders Tuesday morning during the Seattle City Council Transportation Committee meeting.
The report slated to be given to the committee also includes data on the effectiveness of the speed-enforcement cameras currently installed at four Seattle schools. According to the report, there were 24, 336 citations issued between December 10th and April 27. Officials said since the cameras have been activated, there has been a 16 percent reduction in the average of citations issued daily. Ninety-six percent of violators did not receive another violation.
Seattle collected more than $2.7 million in revenue during a five-month test program of the speed cameras. Officials hoped the extra funds could go to implement a School Road Safety Plan, additional school cameras and money toward capital improvements.
Detractors of the speed-camera program have previously argued that the cameras are an increase in a "surveillance state," with officials eventually labeling the revenue from traffic cameras as a way to make easy funds.