Police want red-light cameras for two Edmonds intersections

Published 11:28 pm Monday, April 13, 2009

EDMONDS — Red-light cameras could continue their march through Snohomish County soon, after red-light trials have led police here to seek cameras in two of the city’s busy intersections.

Snapshots and short videos from the cameras could be used by midsummer to send $124 tickets to drivers who don’t stop for red lights.

In Edmonds, cameras are needed on westbound Highway 104 at 100th Avenue W. and on westbound 220th Street SW at Highway 99, police officials said. A City Council committee is scheduled to discuss that request tonight.

Edmonds would be the latest city in Snohomish County to install the cameras.

Lynnwood last year raised $2 million as its share of the profit from the private company that runs cameras in nine intersections. The company was paid $390,000. City officials are considering adding four more cameras this year. Officials in Everett also plan to install cameras in six intersections soon.

Seattle has had a red-light program since 2006, and the city of Bellevue approved one just last week.

Across the country, red-light cameras have raised millions of dollars for local governments — and a fair bit of controversy. Three weeks ago, the cameras were banished from all Mississippi roads by legislators worried about privacy and unfair tickets.

The cameras are primarily for safety, said Gerry Gannon, Edmonds’ assistant police chief.

“We’re hoping they will slow people from running red lights eventually,” Gannon said.

Drivers who run red lights put everybody in danger, he said. The city studied three intersections for red-light violators, but only two had at least five violators per day, which is why police are trying to install only two cameras, Gannon said.

National data suggests the cameras help reduce red-light violations and increase safety, according to officials.

They also work on a personal level, said one Edmonds councilman who knows from experience.

Michael Plunkett got a letter from the city of Lynn­wood last year after he allegedly ran a red light there. Plunkett disagreed, but a video clip posted on the Lynnwood Web site proved him wrong.

“Now, I know where they have cameras, and I make more of an effort to follow the laws in all intersections,” he said. “It has made me a better driver — and particularly in Lynnwood.”

It’s a lesson he hopes red lights can teach Edmonds drivers, too, Plunkett said.

If Edmonds officials decide not to install red-light cameras, the city will owe $1,500, according to a contract the city signed with American Traffic Solutions, a Scottsdale, Ariz., company that installs and monitors the cameras.

Chris Fyall: 425-339-3447, cfyall@heraldnet.com.