Red-light cameras at Our Lady of Guadeloupe School?

[zephyr]

Generally I try to avoid driving during the school commute hours for several reasons. Occasionally my schedule takes me through one or two. But I strive to avoid the red-light districts on Roxbury or Fauntleroy. I don’t quite understand how they work and what the threshold is for these automatic cameras. It’s my understanding that if you happen to go a mile or two over, you will get nailed for very expensive ticket.

I try to drive looking forward with glances in the rear and side mirrors. Trying to keep my nose down to read the speed gauge makes this problematical. So even if I have slowed to 19 or 20 mph, it doesn’t mean that the speed can’t inch up while driving several blocks and keeping an eye out for others. So if I get up to 21 or 22, is the camera going to record this? And a ticket will appear shortly in the mail? I certainly realize the importance of safety for the children, but I don’t get the red-light camera thing. I see it as just another trick to fleece the citizen. I drive slowly and extra cautiously in school zones. I see others doing the same. Why has it been determined necessary to have these cameras? It’s a creeping phenomenon—like an invasive species at so many intersections in the various cities.

At any rate, I do not recall any announcements about cameras at O.L.O.G. school (the Catholic school on 35th and Myrtle). The known West Seattle cameras were Fauntleroy and the one or two on Roxbury as far as I know. There may be others, but O.L.O.G. was not in this group. Today while driving north on 35th I noticed for the first time a sign saying: “Photo-enforced”. I am positive I drove this section in the last week during school times with lights flashing and did not see any such sign. How long has it been there? Does anyone know?

And just how does the camera work? Does it screen the oncoming traffic at either end, or does it somehow look backwards as well? Are there multiple cameras? Are they up high scanning down below? Are they spaced along the street? I will have to bike up there and try to figure this out.

And does anyone know for sure the threshold over which the ticket is given? 20.1, 20.2,…21.0, …22.0, etc. Is there a standard? I certainly intend to go 20 mph and not go faster, but I would like to know if there is any wiggle room for vehicle going slightly faster. Otherwise, we may as well aim for 15 mph in order to avoid the ticket. I will definitely do my best to avoid yet another school zone. Thanks.
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[WSB]

The sign has actually been there a long time. There is NOT a fixed camera there. The city has a floating speed-camera van that is in the area sometimes, and has been off and on for a long time. That’s what the sign is for. The only speed cameras in our area are on Roxbury (Roxhill and Holy Family), on Fauntleroy (Gatewood Elementary), and on Delridge (Louisa Boren STEM K-8) – TR

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[zephyr]

Thanks for the update. I appreciate the clarification. I know that there’s a similar sign further north on 35th near Camp Long or so. I was quite puzzled by the sudden “appearance” of this other one. Funny how it’s been invisible to me all along. ;) The sun was hitting on it just right this afternoon.

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