BACK-TO-SCHOOL COUNTDOWN: City announces new school-zone speeding-ticket camera in West Seattle

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

With school starting next week for most local students, the city’s school-zone speed cameras will be activated starting Wednesday (September 1st) – and SDOT has just announced that for the first time in six years, there’s a new one in West Seattle. In addition to the existing automated cameras, SDOT says it’s added one on 35th SW between SW Willow and SW Othello, near Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School. That stretch has long had a warning about enforcement because SPD had on occasion deployed a mobile speed-camera van, but now there’s a permanent camera. It’s one of 15 around the city, also including sites on Fauntleroy Way SW near Gatewood Elementary, on SW Roxbury near Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School, and on Delridge Way SW near Louisa Boren STEM K-8. (SDOT confirmed, when we asked on followup, that the new camera will have a 30-day warnings-before-tickets period as has been the case in the past.)

Graciano August 26, 2021 (4:27 pm)

The one on Roxbury goes off at all hours and on the weekends… lol

Brian August 26, 2021 (4:31 pm)

Cool more income generation for the city that won’t go to fixing our literally crumbling infrastructure.

Don Brubeck August 26, 2021 (7:59 pm)

Income from the school zone speed limit enforcement cameras goes to traffic and pedestrian improvements to make it safer for kids to walk to school. It does improve our crumbling infrastructure. It is a very small percent of the city’s transportation budget. If you don’t want to contribute, just don’t drive at more than 20 mph when the big yellow light are flashing. Driving at 20 mph gives drivers and children walking to school enough time to see each other and react to keep kids safe.

Geriatric Millenial August 26, 2021 (4:31 pm)

Great progress, now put the same cameras on Admiral Way starting at 63rd and 61st. <3

Rhonda August 26, 2021 (4:55 pm)

Well, now our section of 34th SW will be besieged with even more cars avoiding the speed cameras.

Jort August 26, 2021 (7:20 pm)

There is serious potential for this camera to generate trillions, perhaps even quadrillions of dollars of revenue. Nearly every driver on this stretch of 35th Ave SW violates the law by speeding. While on one hand I would love to see the city earn more money, it breaks my heart to know that it’s only happening because my fellow citizens can’t find it within themselves to drive safely and protect the lives of our children.

Anne August 26, 2021 (7:39 pm)

plenty find it within themselves to go the proper speed limit Jort-you just assume they won’t.
- bill August 27, 2021 (6:51 am)
  
  Only a person who does not drive on 35th would think such a thing, Anne.

waikikigirl August 26, 2021 (7:52 pm)

There should be more red light runner cameras installed. In these past few months I have never seen so many cars run red lights, it’s terrible.

Derek August 27, 2021 (9:48 am)

There should be less cameras not more. Do people not like freedom anymore? This is becoming a dystopia. Red light running isn’t even a leading traffic fatality crime.
- Jon Wright August 28, 2021 (11:04 pm)
  
  I like freedom a lot. But I like physical safety more. And crazy drivers have become a much bigger existential threat to me and my family than the possibility of my vehicle being photographed. So yes, I’m fine with traffic enforcement cameras everywhere.
- DystopianReality August 29, 2021 (3:22 pm)
  
  Some US cities are already dystopian. If traffic design enables people speeding then the design is wrong. Ultimately speeding cameras are just a reactive measure to deal with it. Proactively the US has a lot of catch up to do https://youtu.be/Ra_0DgnJ1uQ

Peter August 26, 2021 (9:55 pm)

I don’t usually support traffic cameras because it feels so big brother-like, but absolutely support them for school zones. It is shocking to me how fast drivers plow through schools, thereby endangering the lives of children and others. Very happy to see this.

GrumpyGus August 26, 2021 (10:16 pm)

I used to be against speed cameras, but now I feel like they might be our last chance. How about along California Ave, which seems like a 40 mph zone from Admiral all the way to Morgan? And on the length of Admiral Way, one end to the other? It’s gotten nuts.

Sasquatch August 27, 2021 (9:20 am)

I feel like people speed down 45th rather than California because there are no lights and it’s a wider residential street. There will be an accident involving a middle school kid going to Madison, and then the city will do something, I hope….
Paleeaze! August 28, 2021 (9:40 am)

In full agreement here. We need more traffic cameras on these stretches too.

BetteDavisEyes August 27, 2021 (12:21 am)

I traveled through that school zone every morning for many years, often riding in a Metro bus, back when it was two lanes each way. The worst speed offenders were always parents dropping off children at the OLG school. Maybe it’s past time we monetized their arrogance?

bill August 27, 2021 (6:52 am)

Folks asking for speed cameras: Their use is tightly restricted by state law. Easy to look up.

Geriatric Millenial August 27, 2021 (1:41 pm)

Laws can be changed. Also where exactly is it written down? New to the US.

Lincoln Park Mom August 27, 2021 (8:29 am)

Why do we need a 30 day warning period before tickets are issued? These school zones are not new to any of us. What this says is, feel free to keep doing as you do for another 30 days. SMH

A.D. August 27, 2021 (9:03 am)

I thought there was already one in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe School. I spent all spring looking out for it since I drive further south to drop my kid off at Holy Family Bilingual.

WSB August 27, 2021 (9:28 am)

As noted above, there’s been signage there for many years because police had a mobile speed camera (a van, on which we first reported in the late 2000s) that would be parked there on occasion.
- Jill Loblaw August 28, 2021 (9:23 pm)
  
  West Marginal Way would be a killing field for speeding tickets. Average speed in my experience in the morning during week days is 40 plus.

anonyme August 27, 2021 (11:14 am)

I support speed cameras everywhere, not just school zones. Speeding is out of control. Either we need cameras or SPD enforcement – and we all know that ain’t gonna happen.

Jill Loblaw August 28, 2021 (9:24 pm)

Amen!

Lincoln Park Mom August 27, 2021 (1:00 pm)

I still don’t understand why we need 30 days notice before tickets are issued. It needs to start in one week. These signs are not new, just the cameras.

Auntie August 28, 2021 (10:07 am)

What about the speed camera warning sign northbound on 35th between Findlay and Brandon? I don’t think there has ever been any enforcement there, in spite of the signage. All of 35th, both ways, could use some enforcement. It’s like a speedway!