Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Olympia Community Livability and Public Safety Committee will discuss pedestrian safety and ways to reduce speeding, including the use of speed safety cameras, at a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
In January, the Olympia City Council directed the committee to research the potential use of speed safety cameras as a tool to reduce vehicle speeds and improve pedestrian safety.
Council member Kelly Green introduced a referral, asking the committee to evaluate the feasibility and consider whether speed enforcement cameras could improve traffic safety, particularly in school zones and other high pedestrian areas. She cited growing concerns about speeding on city streets.
City staff prepared a report detailing how the cameras could be used, along with privacy protections and resources needed to establish a program.
Washington state has authorized the use of speed safety cameras since 2005. Other cities currently using the cameras include Bellevue, Federal Way, Fife, Kirkland, Issaquah, Lake Forest Park, Lakewood, Lynnwood, Moses Lake, Renton, Spokane, Seattle, Tukwila and Wenatchee.
Speed safety cameras are authorized for use only in certain locations where there is a demonstrated need. Authorized locations include 20 mile per hour school zones, school walk routes, park zones, hospital zones and designated “crash prevention zones.”
Crash prevention zones are defined as streets where the number of collisions resulting in fatal or serious injuries is greater than expected for similar streets over a five-year period.
The state also regulates the number of speed safety cameras a city may operate based on the size of its population.
Olympia’s population is estimated at 58,630, which allows the city to operate a maximum of six cameras. Once the city’s population reaches 60,000 residents, the maximum number increases to seven.
Cities that use speed safety cameras are also required to report annually to the public on the number of crashes at camera locations, the number of infractions issued by each camera, the percentage of fine revenue used to cover program costs, and how revenue exceeding the cost of operating the program is used.
The cameras would only record when a speeding violation occurs and could not capture faces of drivers or passengers. The recordings could not be used for unrelated law enforcement and could be deleted once they are no longer needed as evidence.
Under the proposed system, citations would be treated similarly to parking violations rather than moving violations. The registered owner of the vehicle would generally be responsible for the citation, which must be mailed within 14 days. The fine could be up to $145 and may be doubled for violations in school speed zones or crash prevention zones.
If Olympia moves forward, the city council would need to adopt an ordinance establishing the program, conduct an equity analysis of camera locations, and provide signs at least 30 days before cameras begin issuing violations. Staff stated a program could also require additional city and court staffing.
If the speed safety camera program moves forward, staff research states the most feasible approach would likely be to purchase the necessary hardware and software from a third-party vendor with ongoing subscription costs.
The committee will also consider other ways to manage vehicle speeds, including traffic enforcement and traffic-calming improvements.
Successful camera programs in other cities have used citation revenue to fund traffic safety projects, with the goal of reducing speeding over time and eventually making cameras unnecessary.
The committee meets at Olympia City Hall, Council Chambers at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 26.
13 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
TheVirtualOne
Here we go again. The City of Olympia never misses an opportunity to dip into the taxpayers pockets when it comes to new revenue.
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
Acadian04
Let's see if this will work to change the behavior of drivers who speed. If it works, keep it going.
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
BillString
Flock was rejected. Axios is probably next. Welcome to the police state.
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
KarenM
Speeding is dangerous for other drivers on the road and people who are walking or cycling. The police cannot be everywhere. If cameras can help reduce crashes, deaths and injuries, then let's use them where it is appropriate. The state has placed limits on their use.
A note from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)* website about speed cameras:
Speed safety cameras can substantially reduce speeding on a wide range of roads. IIHS studies of cameras on
residential roads in Maryland, on a high-speed roadway in Arizona and on city streets in the District of Columbia found that the proportion of drivers exceeding speed limits by more than 10 mph declined by 70%, 88% and 82%, respectively, six to eight months after cameras were introduced (Retting et al., 2008; Retting et al., 2008; Retting & Farmer, 2003).
*The IIHS is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research and evaluation and through education of consumers, policymakers and safety professionals.
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
SAlexander
It is not dipping into someone's pocket when there are speed signs posted and someone is ignoring them. I live in Tumwater and while they were working on a major road here, traffic was diverted. One of the streets was POSTED as 25 MPH. I drive that street a lot and always drive the speed limit. People using that street who didn't ordinarily use it were always speeding down the street; regardless of children or adults. Grow up, people!! Think about others and not just yourself. We were lucky no one got run into and hurt or killed during this time.
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
Honestyandrealityguy
On one hand, it looks good. On another, let's work on reducing crime and training the homeless. In the long run, will save millions to billions here in town.
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
JW
I will only support this if ICE is given unfettered access to the cameras to aid in the deportation effort.
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
LivinginthePNW
I think the term they are looking for is 'Traffic Calming Strategies', so hey Committee Members go to gdrc.org and look it up, they are a bunch of researched viable techniques to prioritize pedestrians, reduce speed, even enhance aesthetics in street design (look up Seattle's Painted Street Murals as a successful local example), Olympia can be a lot more innovative in addressing this issue
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
Mugwump
Every member of this city council should be voted out of office at the earliest opportunity. They demonstrate over and over again a complete inability to find practical solutions to very basic problems. Roads, sidewalks, public safety, infrastructure: these are the issues voters care about. What do they consistently deliver? Study after study after study. Consultants and lobbying firms hired to convince the voters they're not seeing what's right in from of their noses.
If nothing else this is another story that demonstrates the UTTER CONTEMPT this council has for its constituents.
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
chrispc2u
I don’t care if “they’re doing this in other cities”. Is this the Jolt trying to help justify these city profit machines? What happened to cops pulling people over and assessing their situation? I’v got ticketed by these yellow light hair splitters before. No thanks. Made driving in Lakewood like driving in a minefield. Make the cops do the job they were hired for.
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
TheVirtualOne
chrispc2u - You nailed it! These speed cameras are not designed for safety purposes. If they were, you’d see people being arrested when they’re going 50 mph in a 25 zone. What happens in reality is the camera snaps a photo of a very slow rolling stop at a red light when there is absolutely no traffic or danger, then automatically sends a $257 ticket in the mail to someone who has caused no harm, safety problem, or injury to anyone. Same is true for anyone who has been the victim of going 27 in a 25 mph zone. This is not a black and white thing, unlike what some other comments are suggesting. To fight something like this, you have to go to court, pay fees, possibly hire an attorney, etc. The city knows you’re not going to do that. So, yes - it is nothing more than another tax and revenue stream for the city. On a daily basis I see reckless driving on the roads. Some people think it’s a racetrack and end up actually hurting or killing others yet they are seldom caught or punished. The so-called emphasis on law enforcement isn’t where it should be.
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
SecondOtter
How about Red Light cameras? We need them. Not a day goes by that, if I'm driving, I see someone blasting through a red light. I'm not even talking 'pink' or a amber light, I mean flat out red.
I've even seen transit busses go through red lights. and don't even get me started on people ignoring things like Stop signs. They pull out inches ahead of you when you're doing the speed limit as if waiting for traffic to clear before entering the roadway is voluntary. Right of Way, especially in one of Tumwater's hundreds of roundabouts is not only ignored, but you get flipped the bird for hitting the brakes and honking in protest. They don't know what Yield means. .It's bad and getting worse every day. I would love to have more cops enforcing traffic laws, but it's probably too expensive.
BUt red light cameras might at least inflict pain on the driver.
Thursday, August 27 Report this
JWMVEM
It is most interesting that the City of Olympia City Council was quick to challenge the police department's use of FLOCK cameras. The good the FLOCK system has done far out ways the few incidents of misuse. It has proved to be the tool to help law enforcement in the solving the minor crime to the serious crimes like homicide, not to mention finding abducted or lost people.
Shut down FLOCK because it is intrusive to our civil liberties and "big brother" watching us; however, we can put in speed capturing cameras, which basically do the same thing a FLOCK camera will do. But, it will be used to send a ticket to the speeder.
Did you know the vendor will collect about 75% of the fine!
Friday, August 28 Report this