Consider business in red-light camera debate

Published 8:20 pm Sunday, May 30, 2010

Using traffic cameras to catch speeders or people running red lights is a hot issue that got even hotter last week.

That’s when Tim Eyman stepped into the fray to announce a petition drive to have people vote in August on whether Mukilteo should pay a company to install red-light cameras along Harbour Pointe Boulevard and in front of Olympic View Middle School in early September.

The city would like to make things safer, but Eyman, who has been very successful in using the initiative process for tax issues, thinks there are some privacy issues as well.

“This is an extremely polite bedroom community. … To have the City Council just say, ‘We’re going to slap (up) cameras and start treating our citizens like an ATM machine. …”

In the interest of full disclosure, I must say that I live in Mukilteo and I drive by the middle school pretty frequently. But that’s not what I’m concerned about.

I think there’s a business issue here as well as a safety issue and a privacy issue.

Having the government spy on you with cameras and then send you a ticket is irritating to people and it helps them form an impression about your town and whether they want to spend their money there.

I don’t know if that was an issue in February when the Snohomish County Council voted against a proposal that would have allowed the county to develop automated traffic safety cameras in the unincorporated areas.

Basically council members said they needed more information to take action.

It’s an interesting issue.

Lynnwood has had traffic cameras for quite a while now, and I know that Jean Hales, the president and chief executive of the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce has received some criticism about it.

Hales shared a letter with me not long ago that she received from Richard Kirk.

“I’ve recently received a citation from Lynnwood’s aggressive traffic camera program,” Kirk wrote. “I was cited for going 29 mph in a school zone even though school was in session and no children were present. The normal speed is 30.

“I believe that Lynnwood is only using this system to generate revenue,” he continued. “So I have contacted my state representatives to ask for new legislation to make this practice illegal.”

Hales said she’s received several letters like Kirk’s.

She’s not against safety, but she is concerned that traffic cameras can hurt the city’s reputation and keep shoppers away from Lynnwood businesses.

That certainly is Kirk’s plan.

“I’ve also decided I will no longer patronize any Lynnwood businesses,” he wrote. “I will go to Everett Mall, Northgate or drive to the Bellevue area. I will also pass this onto family and friends.

“I realize you are not the city, but this will affect the business community. I’m sure I’m not the only one in this situation.”

I’ve heard a few similar comments, so I know Kirk isn’t alone.

People get ticked off when government appears to be spying on them, especially if it looks like government is using the spying to make some money.

It’s an interesting issue. And it will be interesting to see whether Eyman is successful in getting it on the ballot and what the voters think about it.

Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459; benbow@heraldnet.com.