10.65.030 Authorized use of automated traffic safety cameras.
A. The police chief may authorize the deployment, or relocation, of automated traffic safety cameras at any stoplight or school speed zone fully or partially located within the city; provided, that for each individual deployment or relocation the following criteria must first be satisfied:
1. The city budget, as approved or amended by the city council, allocates funding for the deployment or relocation of an automated traffic safety camera at the proposed location;
2. The city has received complaints from residents, visitors, city staff, or city officials relating to school speed zone or stoplight violations at the proposed location; and
3. Available data indicates that the installation of an automated traffic safety camera at the proposed location would accomplish one or more of the following:
a. Reduce vehicular speeds;
b. Increase the safety of pedestrians; or
c. Increase the safety of nonmotorized vehicles.
B. Any automated traffic safety camera deployed in accordance with subsection A of this section may only be used by city law enforcement officers to detect one or both of the following:
1. Stoplight violations; or
2. School speed zone violations.
C. The use of automated traffic safety cameras is further subject to the following restrictions:
1. Automated traffic safety cameras may only take pictures of a vehicle and vehicle license plate and only while an infraction is occurring.
2. Pictures taken by an automated traffic safety camera may not reveal the face of the driver or of the passengers in the vehicle.
3. If reasonably feasible, automated traffic safety cameras shall be installed in a manner that minimizes the impact of camera flash on drivers.
4. At least 30 days prior to activation of an automated traffic safety camera, signs must be erected at the school speed zone or stoplight at which the camera is deployed. Such signs must follow the specifications and guidelines of the manual of uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways as adopted by the Department of Transportation under Chapter 47.36 RCW and must clearly indicate to a driver that she or he is entering a zone where traffic laws are enforced by an automated traffic safety camera. Such signs must remain in place for the duration that an automated traffic safety camera is deployed at that location.
5. The yellow change interval of a traffic control signal at the stoplight may not be reduced when deploying an automated traffic safety camera at that stoplight. (Ord. 2371 § 1 (Att. A), 2021).