LYNNWOOD — Drivers who speed in two Lynnwood school zones are now officially subject to video review.
The city, with the support of the Edmonds School District, contracted with a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company to set up cameras in school zones in front of Lynnwood Elementary School and near Meadowdale elementary, middle and high schools.
A warning period ended earlier this month. From now on, cars caught exceeding the school-zone speed limit of 20 mph will receive traffic tickets, said Shannon Sessions, Lynnwood police spokeswoman.
Fines are $124 for driving 6 to 15 mph over the school-zone speed limit and $250 for driving 16 mph or more over the school-zone limit.
Children are eight times more likely to die if hit by a motor vehicle moving at 30 mph than 20 mph, according to the Lynnwood Police Department. Also, it takes a vehicle going 30 mph twice the distance to stop as a vehicle going 20 mph.
The Lynnwood Elementary and Meadowdale school areas had the most speed violations of any school zones in the city, Sessions said.
Edmonds School District bus drivers who drop off and pick up students in those areas have noticed a change in drivers’ behavior.
“My drivers have commented that since those have been put in, drivers are slowing down,” district transportation director Craig Christensen said. “They appear to be working as far as reminding people to slow down, which only means our kids are going to be safer.”
Many steps are involved before a ticket is issued.
If the technology shows a violation, American Traffic Solutions in Arizona makes the original decision whether to accept or reject the violation.
If it is accepted, the video goes to the state Department of Licensing in Washington so the license plate can be identified. The video then is sent to Lynnwood police to be reviewed by an officer.
“We look at every single one,” Sessions said.
There is a 30 percent rejection rate at that point in the process, Lynnwood police Sgt. Wayne Davis said.
The cameras are similar to cameras installed at several Lynnwood intersections to catch red-light runners.
“It pays for itself like the red-light cameras,” Sessions said.
The tickets are like parking tickets and do not go on the driver’s record. The fine can be paid online.
City Council members will decide if school zones will be added or deleted in the future.
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