Driver questions school-zone traffic camera hours
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SEATTLE -- There is no police officer and no warning; just a speeding ticket in the mail. That's the way it works in four Seattle school zones.
Broadview-Thomson K-8 School is one of those four Seattle schools with cameras that capture speeders. Flashing lights on the street outside the school warn drivers to slow down. Outside Broadview-Thomson, cameras also capture drivers if they exceed the 20-mph speed limit.
David Reidinger saw one of those cameras snapping a photo when he drove by some 90 minutes before the start of school.
"I noticed the flash, and I wasn't for sure if that was me or someone else," he said.
The flash was, in fact, for Reidinger, who received a ticket for $189 in the mail.
But the ticket came with a photo snapped at 7:51 a.m. School doesn't start until 9:20.
"I didn't feel that that was school zone at the time," said the North Seattle driver, who asked the Problem Solvers to investigate.
The Problem Solvers took his query to the city. The Department of Transportation and the Seattle Police Department both confirm the flashing lights and the speed-tracking cameras start working at 7:50 a.m
"There are actually 22 different programs here that serve 350 students who come to the school at 8," said Broadview-Thomson Principal Wyeth Jessee.
With so many students walking in the early hours, the principal specifically asked for the earlier start time on the cameras.
But Reidinger isn't sure the policy is so obvious to drivers.
"The hours that the cameras are on -- would be nice (if they match) the expectations of when the school zone is," he said.
Broadview-Thomson K-8 School is one of those four Seattle schools with cameras that capture speeders. Flashing lights on the street outside the school warn drivers to slow down. Outside Broadview-Thomson, cameras also capture drivers if they exceed the 20-mph speed limit.
David Reidinger saw one of those cameras snapping a photo when he drove by some 90 minutes before the start of school.
"I noticed the flash, and I wasn't for sure if that was me or someone else," he said.
The flash was, in fact, for Reidinger, who received a ticket for $189 in the mail.
But the ticket came with a photo snapped at 7:51 a.m. School doesn't start until 9:20.
"I didn't feel that that was school zone at the time," said the North Seattle driver, who asked the Problem Solvers to investigate.
The Problem Solvers took his query to the city. The Department of Transportation and the Seattle Police Department both confirm the flashing lights and the speed-tracking cameras start working at 7:50 a.m
"There are actually 22 different programs here that serve 350 students who come to the school at 8," said Broadview-Thomson Principal Wyeth Jessee.
With so many students walking in the early hours, the principal specifically asked for the earlier start time on the cameras.
But Reidinger isn't sure the policy is so obvious to drivers.
"The hours that the cameras are on -- would be nice (if they match) the expectations of when the school zone is," he said.
The fact is in many school zones you can see if there are kids. Â The punishment should not come if there are no kids and it's hours before school starts. Â Otherwise this is fundraising, not public safety. Â This is why robot ticket writers are a bad idea, no officer for discretion.
pretty simple,, slow down,, leave early I hope the fine is big to! stay off your phones!Â
traffic camera at 5th ave north. and North 94th street is taking photos when flashing school lights are OFF. Is this how it actual works??????
 @Rustydog I got a ticket at 4 PM for going 28 in a 20 school zone on fifth ave NE.  How do I contest this?  Is it a mitigating circumstance or a hearing to contest the notice oif the infraction?
Conflict of interest much.  In the video the principle is excited people are getting tickets cause some revenue goes for safety improvements around the school. Extending hours of school zones doesn't seem like great idea as it is just confusing.  If your school is used so much just change the speed limit for good.  Don't have this, well there could be kids at the school so lets just extend it beyond reason.  Heck with before school programs after school sports, drama and band there could be the potential for kid to be there from 6am to 10:30pm.