Since 2017, cameras attached to school bus stop signs have been snapping pictures of violators and their license plates.
But there’s no enforcement, “Some of the most dangerous driving behavior out there is driving past that stop sign” Mary Ellen Russell, chair of the Seattle School Traffic Safety Committee, says an agreement with King County Sheriffs to review the tickets expired a year ago and No Enforcement equals No Money “There are no tickets being given out which means SPS (Seattle Public Schools) has no money to support crossing guards.”
As many as 6,000 tickets were issued during 2018 and 2019 generating more than $3 million dollars; but since last August offenders are going unpunished “The ticket cameras work, they’re shown to work, they’re shown to reduce dangerous driver behavior” says Russell.
Traffic cameras in Seattle are credited with slowing crashes near school zones by 70% “My office did contact the Seattle Police Department and the City Attorney’s office” Councilmember Alex Pederson is trying to broker a deal to have Seattle PD takeover “Looks like they are on track to get a memorandum of understanding potentially finalized before the end of the year.” At $500 dollars per violation child safety has a price.
