FOLLOWUP: No tickets during school-zone light outage by Gatewood Elementary, says SDOT

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That’s the northbound school-zone beacon on Fauntleroy Way by Gatewood Elementary, and it hasn’t been working for the past few days. Several people mentioned it to us (206-293-6302 – text/call any time!) because, while the beacon wasn’t flashing, the school-zone speed cam associated with it WAS photographing passing cars.

This morning, after yet another report, we went over for a photo and also checked with SDOT to be sure that the problem was on their radar (so to speak) and to ask whether drivers would indeed be ticketed. Here’s the reply from spokesperson Norm Mah:

SDOT is aware of the situation and working to resolve the issue. Though the camera is still taking photos, no citations will be issued while the beacons are offline.

Community members are welcome to contact SDOT if there are SZSC [school-zone speed camera] related issues regarding the operation of existing beacons, contact walkandbike@seattle.gov or 206-684-7583.

This is one of three school zones in West Seattle with fixed speed cameras. All three – and other school zones that just have beacons, without cameras – are shown on the map you’ll find on this city webpage.

FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: SDOT says the beacons are working again as of this morning.

9 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: No tickets during school-zone light outage by Gatewood Elementary, says SDOT"

  • ACG March 3, 2016 (12:53 pm)

    Thx for the update, WSB!  

  • PSPS March 3, 2016 (5:07 pm)

    I wonder if the camera company in Phoenix gets the same $50 vigorish per ticket that they do from the red light cameras.

  • bancams March 4, 2016 (6:46 am)

    The city pocketed about a million dollars a month from the first four school zone speed
    zone traps. That was the rate in


    2014 before our City Council increased the number of
    cameras and
    increased the fine to the totally unfair $234 each. See http://www.seattle.gov/financedepartment



    About $40,000 a month in 2014 went to
    Goldman Sachs-backed American Traffic Solutions of Arizona — for
    Seattle’s school cams alone. $40,000 a month. For starters. Let that
    sink in a minute. $40,000 a month plucked from our community and given to Wall Street 1-percenters.



    These cam traps are fleecing us.

  • ChannelingLewisBlack March 4, 2016 (8:54 am)

    I know there’s a libertarian bend here, but seems silly that we need beacons to remind us to obey school zone speed limits.  Are we too ignorant to determine when school hours are?  Kids aren’t as important as our need for speed?

    • HelperMonkey March 4, 2016 (9:09 am)

      There’s no “need for speed” – the speed limit is 30mph there when school not in session. I don’t know or care about your personal politics (or what politics even has to do with a discussion about school zones, but what do I know?) but speaking for myself – I don’t have kids, so I don’t know or care when school is in session (vacations, days off, late starts, etc). It’s not something I need to waste my time thinking about, so yeah, the lights are a handy reminder. This particular school zone though? I drive through daily and have yet to see one child or school bus anywhere near the school zone when the lights are flashing.  So honestly, my main motivation in following the speed limit there is not your child’s safety – it is avoiding getting a $280 ticket in the mail. 

    • chemist March 4, 2016 (3:20 pm)

      Normal school hours might not be so difficult, but half days, early dismissals, the occasional shelter in place due to a possible gun sighting, etc makes it far less predictable for those of us without youngsters.

  • bancams March 4, 2016 (12:04 pm)

    Please keep in mind when
    discussing these camera ticket zones that we are not talking about
    safety, children, schools, or education. We are talking about easy money
    for greedy politicians and private, out-of-state business. Please don’t be so naive as to be believe these things have anything to do with “the children.” There never has been an outbreak of school zone carnage caused by malicious,out-of-control speed freaks. There is, however, and outbreak of greed and avarice among supporters of camera tickets. More than $1 million a month from Seattle speed cams — More than $40,000 a month to Goldman Sachs-funded American Traffic Systems. About “the children” — not hardly.  

    • WSB March 4, 2016 (12:06 pm)

      By the way, SDOT says the beacons on Fauntleroy are all working again.

  • bancams March 4, 2016 (2:40 pm)

    By
    the way, there is no end to this. It’s easy fundraising for the city
    and the private business interests. It takes relatively small amounts of
    money from large numbers of people. 70 tickets issued every day at Gatewood. 70 more at RoxHill. That’s the average per camera. It’s a big-scale revenue program.

    In a few short years, this private law enforcement shake down has
    expanded. Most certainly, it will continue to grow until there are
    camera ticket machines at every intersection and along every stretch of
    road.

    Next
    they’ll have drones issuing tickets to people who walk their dogs off
    leash at Lincoln Park — or spit on a sidewalk — or say they support a
    Socialist. Just wait. People will still defend the intrusions and the
    money grab with the tired, old whine: ‘well, if you just obey the
    law….’ We deserve President Trump.

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