June 2011
Bellingham’s Traffic Safety Cameras Delayed
by Selah Prather
Selah Prather is a journalist completing an internship with Whatcom Watch. She graduates on June 11 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Journalism from Western Washington University.
The automated Traffic Safety Cameras that Bellingham was expected to install by April 1 are delayed due to continuing contract negotiations, according to Bellingham Police. The cameras are more likely to be installed later this summer.
In the January 2011 issue (see “Red Light Cameras Arrive in Spring: Bellingham Joins 24 Other Cities in Washington With Cameras”), Whatcom Watch reported that the contract was being signed and that the cameras, which detect vehicles speeding or running red lights, would be mounted in six locations in Bellingham in spring.
However, the contract with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) was still being routed, Bellingham Police Lt. Scott Snider said in a May 5 interview with Whatcom Watch.
The plan to install the cameras came in December after Mayor Dan Pike signed the ordinance authorizing the city to begin a one-year pilot program with four locations where drivers frequently run red lights and two locations where drivers speed in school zones.
Once the cameras are installed, warning tickets will be produced for the first 30 days, according to Lt. Snider. After that, offenders receive a ticket in the mail and directions on how to respond. “That will help us achieve our goal of modifying driver behavior and reducing the number of violations that occur,” he said.
Meantime, some concerned community members want to be able to vote on the issue. Called the Transportation Safety Coalition, they started a petition to get the camera issue on the ballot for the November elections.
“We want to see the democratic process achieved,” said coalition member Stephen Hutton.
As previously reported, the city council originally scheduled a public hearing for testimony devoted to the camera issue. A few days later, however, the council cancelled the public hearing citing sensitivity to two local tragic events – a missing Western Washington University student and the death of a two-year girl walking in a school zone with her mother.
City council members decided not to reschedule the public hearing and the ordinance was approved at its Nov. 23 meeting. Members of the public provided input during public comment periods of regularly scheduled council meetings. §
