Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, December 4, 2008 Everett OKs red-light cameras By David Chircop Herald Writer EVERETT -- The Everett City Council on Wednesday voted 6-1 to approve a new ordinance allowing red-light cameras. Council members are expected in the near future to vote on whether to install cameras at six busy intersections around the city. They might also have cameras placed in two school zones to catch speeders. "This is a huge public safety issue," Councilman Paul Roberts said before voting in favor of the ordinance. The new city ordinance states that its main goal is to improve safety. In addition to red-light cameras, the ordinance would allow for the installation of cameras to catch speeders in school zones and people who fail to stop at railroad crossings. Any red-light cameras installed would be placed in areas with both relatively high rates of T-bone accidents and red-light violations, said Ryan Sass, Everett's city engineer. Under the ordinance, the registered owner of a car caught on camera running a red light would be mailed a $124 ticket. Because the cameras could not legally take images of a driver's face, violations are treated as parking tickets on a vehicle's record, not moving violation that are placed on a driver's record. Councilman Mark Olson voted against the measure, saying he is concerned about the future expense of a red-light-camera program. He also expressed reservations about the proliferation of cameras that he said may not actually improve safety. Sass said the expense to run a single camera is anticipated to cost between $4,000 and $5,000 per month. However, agreements between cities and red-light camera vendors typically are written to include "no negative cash flow clauses" that ensure that cameras pay for themselves, Sass said. Everett joins Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mill Creek and Mountlake Terrace as cities that have pursued red-light cameras. While Lynnwood and Edmonds currently have red-light cameras operating at several intersections, officials in Mill Creek and Mountlake Terrace have both scrapped red-light camera plans because they were found to have little benefit. Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Emory’s owner fears fire was arson 2. Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme Court 3. Vatican ponders the souls in space 4. 81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored in Snohomish 5. Hope dims that Olympics will boost region 6. Student hit in crosswalk to return 7. Smokey Point to celebrate end of roadwork 8. Death on Edmonds waterfront ruled a suicide 9. Help for young moms may continue 10. Semifinal slate sealed on ‘Dancing With Stars’ 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Bazaar Fever • Hawks proud of historic season • Olson always put Edmonds first • Honoring student veterans • ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop • Mavs build early lead en route to easy win • Prep football games of the week (state playoffs) • Tears of laughter, tears of grief • Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million