It’s “mixed results” so far as to whether or not school zone traffic cameras in Kent are causing drivers to slow down.
The statistics show that in the months of January and February of this year fewer tickets were issued than the same two months in 2014. But from March to June the numbers this year were similar to the same months last year (see related chart).
“I think it’s a big program and it takes time,” Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas said about the trends. “One comparison is not enough to make decisions. But it’s mixed results. It was down significantly and then not so much.”
A total of 12,578 tickets were filed with Kent Municipal Court during the first 19 months of the program from January 2014 through July 2015, according to court statistics.
City officials set up traffic cameras to catch speeders at Neely-O’Brien Elementary, 6300 S. 236th St., and Sunrise Elementary, 22300 132nd Ave. S.E. Police issue a $124 fine for a vehicle exceeding the 20 mph school speed limit by 1 to 9 mph and issue a $248 fine for speeds of 10 mph or faster above the speed limit.
The program has brought in more than $1 million to the city. The city will add cameras this fall at Meridian Elementary, 25621 140th Ave. S.E. (on SE 256th St.) and Millennium Elementary, 11919 S.E. 270th St. (on 124th Ave. S.E.).
“When it first kicked in January 2014 we had 649 tickets vs. 423 in January this year so I think it’s making a significant difference,” Thomas said about the early results. “But in April we were close to the same numbers, May was close and June is higher in 2015 than 2014.”
Police started the program at the request of Kent School District officials in an effort to get drivers to obey the 20 mph speed limit at two schools where traffic studies showed the most speed violations even before cameras went up.
“I would’ve expected the trend to go down more,” Thomas said.
School District officials certainly appreciate the cameras, which were approved by the City Council.
“Neely-O’Brien reports that the cameras have had a significant impact,” said Chris Loftis, school district spokesman. “Traffic is more consistently going the speed limit during arrival and dismissal times and anecdotally they’ve seen a significant reduction in reports of ‘near-miss’ accidents involving students, family members and passing traffic.”
It’s been a similar impact at Sunrise Elementary.
“Sunrise reports that they have noticed a positive change overall,” Loftis said. “However, they often see people slow down close to the camera, but evidently once some drivers feel it’s out of range, speed back up, often right at the crosswalk. This is obviously dangerous.”
Thomas said it’s difficult to know how many drivers are repeat offenders or to get any numbers on drivers who comply with the speed limit. The traffic volume around the schools could change as well.
“The whole goal is to keep the kids safe and I hope that’s taken place,” Thomas said. “We based it on need so we targeted schools at the highest risk for kids.”
Loftis said the two schools get dozens of calls each year from angry motorists regarding the cameras and their tickets.
“One thing that is important for the public to know is that our schools are not involved in any way in the management of the cameras,” Loftis said. “While we appreciate safer streets and recognize that means traffic regulation and enforcement on our students’ behalf, we do not handle any ticketing problems or questions the community might have about the processes associated with the cameras and traffic enforcement.”
Thomas said he’s interested to see the numbers this fall at Neely-O’Brien and Sunset compared to last year. He said cameras at one of the schools didn’t work for about a week last September, so the numbers could be higher in 2015.
Thomas emphasized it’s still too early to tell exactly what impact the cameras are having on drivers.
“I don’t think we have enough data to draw conclusions yet,” he said.
• School zone speeding tickets
(filed with Kent Municipal Court)
2015
January: 423
February: 467
March: 904
April: 560
May: 920
June: 931
July: 7
Total: 4,212
2014
January: 649
February: 832
March: 1,032
April: 587
May: 978
June: 883
July: 4
August: 2
September: 1,006
October: 1,198
November: 623
December: 572
Total: 8,366
19-month total: 12,578
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