Legislative News Sammamish, WA: City Council doesn’t like the idea of traffic cameras
City Council doesn’t like the idea of traffic cameras
December 19, 2011
By Ari Cetron
New: Dec. 19, 2:48 p.m.
Sammamish motorists won’t have to worry about red light or speeding cameras anytime in the near future, at least not in the city limits.
At a Dec. 13 City Council study session, Sammamish Police Chief Nate Elledge recommended against installing the cameras in the city, citing their potential costs, the impersonal approach to police work and a skeptical public.
“My recommendation is that we don’t move forward with this,” Elledge told the council. “I’m saying that because right now they’re very controversial – there’s this perception in the public that they’re being used to collect revenue rather to increase traffic safety.”
Elledge had researched the cameras at the request of council members who had heard concerns from residents about speeding in school zones.
Councilman John James wasn’t convinced the cameras were a good idea after Elledge’s presentation, but said he’d like to keep the option in mind in the future, particularly if a private vendor began offering a moveable camera system that could be rotated among Sammamish’s many schools.
“It’s impractical to put (a speeding camera) in front of one school only,” James said. “But do they make mobile units? … I’m trying to help kids get to school safely and make (drivers) more aware.”
“We have one of those – it’s a police officer with a radar gun,” Elledge said.
Sammamish Police often target speeding in school zones around the city.
Elledge said the cost of the cameras – mostly administrative fees charged by the private companies that run them – can mean that the devices end up being a cash drain for cities, especially after drivers become more aware of the cameras and adjust their driving to avoid tickets.
Red light cameras typically cost $16,000 to $20,000 a month, while speed cameras cost about $10,000 a month.
The cameras, which have raised the ire of drivers and civil liberties advocates, and invited anti-camera initiatives in cities like Redmond, also take away what Elledge said was one of the more important facets of police work – in-person contact.
“When you have a camera system in place it takes away … from officers’ ability to use discretion in deciding whether or not to issue a citation,” Elledge said. “Believe it or not, sometimes people have valid reasons for speeding.”
Not contacting drivers in person also prevents officers from detecting other crimes or arresting people for outstanding warrants, Elledge added.
While the cameras are effective in catching law-breakers, Elledge said they also take an officer off the street, since an officer must review video of each infraction before a ticket is issued.
Public Works Director Laura Philpot said the traffic camera idea had been floated after staff at Discovery Elementary voiced concerns about speeding along 228th Avenue and Southeast 24th Street. Philpot said the city had added signage and a flashing school zone beacon in the area, which has helped slow drivers down.
Councilwoman Nancy Whitten said installing cameras was probably overkill at this point.
“It feels really ‘Big Brother,’ ” Whitten said. “If there were deaths or significant accidents happening, then it might be a better time to look at something as major as this.”
Reporter Caleb Heeringa can be reached at 392-6434. ext. 247, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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