Given the City’s automated photo enforcement program’s success in reducing speeds and increasing safety in school zones, the City Council discussed expanding the program at their June 24 meeting. New state law has expanded speed zone authority from school zones only to other streets where speeding is a problem.
As a result of the June 24 discussion, the City Council directed city staff to return in September with a plan to add photo enforcement at the Inglemoor High School school zone. Before the IHS school zone is added, the City Council directed staff to implement a reduced speed limit on Simonds Road from 35 mph to 30 mph.
In addition, the City Council directed staff to bring back a plan to enforce the non-school zone speed limit (i.e. the regular speed limit when the school zone time is not activated) all day every day (24/7) at the following three locations:
- Arrowhead Elementary School Zone on Juanita Drive (30 mph non-school zone speed limit)
- Kenmore Elementary School Zone on 73rd Avenue (30 mph non-school zone speed limit)
- Inglemoor H.S. School Zone on Simonds Road (future 30 mph non-school zone speed limit)
In addition to the two existing photo enforcement zones at Kenmore Elementary and Arrowhead Elementary, the City utilizes photo enforcement for red light running at the left turn signal (eastbound turning northbound) at 61st Avenue and Bothell Way. No new red light running photo enforcement locations are proposed at this time.
At the June 24 meeting, other locations with speeding problems were discussed, including sections of Juanita Drive outside of the Arrowhead Elementary school zone and Simonds Road/170th Street east/south of Rhododendron Park. These locations will continue to be monitored and may be considered for future photo locations if speeding persists.
At the June 24 City Council meeting the City Council directed staff to increase the photo enforcement fine amount from $100 to $110 in 2025 and $135 in 2029 in order to keep pace with the increased operating costs of the program. Traffic Engineer Tobin Bennett Gold confirmed that the firm that operates the camera system does not get a commission or percentage of fines collected. Instead, the firm is paid a flat fee for operation of the cameras, and a small pass-through cost for the printing and mailing of violations.
The Financial Sustainability Task Force recommended expanded photo enforcement as part of their recommendations to help pay for public safety costs. Revenue from the photo enforcement program is intended to help pay for 1) pavement preservation and street repairs, 2) traffic safety improvements, and 3) police department time spent on traffic safety and enforcement of traffic laws.
Expansion of the KAPE program is an important safety tool to encourage drivers to moderate driving speed which reduces both crash risk and the severity of crashes that do occur. The program is fair, equitable, transparent, and safety-driven and the revenue from KAPE supports important City services as recommended by the Financial Sustainability Task Force.
Learn more about the KAPE program at kenmorewa.gov/KAPE.
