Renton plans way to catch speeders, red-light runners

Just in time for the start of the school year, Renton is taking a step toward improving students' safety as they head to and from school.

The city plans to install speed cameras to catch motorists driving too fast near schools. If the contract is signed, the cameras will be installed in front of three Renton schools, and three red-light cameras will be added at some of the city's major intersections.

The city started talking about the cameras a year ago after residents asked for them, Police Commander Katie McClincy said.

Sometime this fall, drivers could see the cameras in front of Renton High School on South Second Street, at Talbot Hill Elementary School on Talbot Road South and at McKnight Elementary on Edmonds Avenue Northeast.

Drivers regularly drive by the schools going too fast, McClincy said.

Police chose the locations after they clocked drivers' speeds on the streets in front of the schools.

The speed cameras would capture speed by radar and photograph the vehicle's license plate.

The city hasn't decided at what point a driver would be issued a ticket, McClincy said.

Renton is the second Southeast King County city to approve speed cameras.

Auburn has one speed camera in a school zone at Mt. Baker Middle School and plans to install a second one, police spokesman Scott Near said.

Maple Valley also is considering using cameras to enforce red-light running and speed.

Renton also plans to add red-light cameras at three intersections: Northeast Third Street and Sunset Boulevard North; the three-way intersection of Sunset Boulevard North, Bronson Way North and Maple Valley Highway; and South 43rd Street and East Valley Highway.

The camera vendor, American Traffic Solutions, surveyed several intersections in Renton and counted the number of drivers who ran the red lights in an eight-hour period.

A fourth red-light camera likely would be installed at Rainier Avenue South and South Grady Way, McClincy said.

Renton City Council approved the cameras in June, and the one-year $306,000 contract with the camera vendor was sent to the mayor last week to be signed.

The primary goal of the cameras is to cut down on speeding and red-light running, but they also take a burden off police, McClincy said.

"I just can't have a cop at every school and every intersection 24 hours a day," McClincy said. "No police agency can do that."

The cameras photograph the vehicles' license plate. The red-light cameras take pictures only when a vehicle crosses the stop line when the light is red.

Tickets are sent to the address of the vehicle's registered owner, who can view the photos online, McClincy said.

The basic ticket for red-light runners and speeders is $124, but the fine depends on the situation, McClincy said.

Lauren Vane: 253-234-8604 or lvane@seattletimes.com