A graphic illustration reminding drivers to keep crosswalks and intersections clear by not entering the intersection when there's not a clear path across. Graphic: SDOT Update: April 6, 2022: This blog post was originally posted in November 2021 and has been updated with the latest information about timing. SDOT has begun activating cameras in several locations, and is continuing to activate the remaining cameras over several weeks.
Translated versions of this blog post are available in Amharic, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Somali, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Chinese:
- ከመጋቢትወርጀምሮ፣አዳዲስየትራፊክካሜራዎችየሕዝብማመላለሻመስመሮችንየሚጠቀሙ ወይምበህገወጥመንገድማቋረጫችንእናየመስቀለኛመንገዶችንየሚዘጉሾፌሮችንበራስ ሰርቲኬትያደርጋቸዋል።
- A partir de marzo, las nuevas cámaras de tráfico multarán automáticamente a los conductores que usen los carriles del transporte público o bloqueen los cruces peatonales y las intersecciones ilegalmente.
- 3月以降、新しい交通カメラによる記録に基づき、トランジットレーンを走行したドライバー、または横断歩道や交差点の通行を違法に妨げるドライバーには、チケットが自動的に発行されます。
- 3월부터 대중교통 전용 차선을 이용하거나 횡단보도 및 교차로를 불법적으로 가로막는 운전자에게 새로운 교통 카메라가 자동으로 교통 위반 티켓이 발급됩니다.
- Laga bilaabo bisha Maarso, kamaradaha cusub ee taraafikadu waxay si toos ah u tigidhayaan wadayaasha isticmaala jidadka gaadiidka, ama xannibi doona isgoysyada iyo isgoysyada si sharci darro ah.
- Simula sa Marso, ang mga bagong kamera na pang-trapiko ay awtomatikong magti-ticket sa mga nagmamaneho na gumagamit ng mga transit lane, o humaharang sa mga tawiran at interseksyon nang ilegal.
- Bắt đầu từ tháng 3, camera giao thông mới sẽ tự động chụp hình và phạt những người lái xe trên làn đường dành cho phương tiện giao thông công cộng hoặc chặn lối qua đường cho người đi bộ và ngã tư một cách bất hợp pháp.
- 从 3 月开始，新的交通摄像头将自动对使用公交车道或非法堵塞人行横道和十字路口的司机开罚单。
- 從 3 月開始，新的交通攝像頭將自動對使用公交車道或非法堵塞行人穿越道和十字路口的司機開罰單。
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Seattle Police Department (SPD) have begun turning on new traffic cameras which will take photos of cars that are illegally driving in bus lanes or blocking crosswalks and intersections. These cameras will help improve public safety, reduce congestion, keep transit moving, and increase mobility for people with disabilities.
The City of Seattle has now activated transit lane enforcement cameras in several locations. The cameras are being turned on gradually over several weeks in order to test the system in each location and give the public time to adjust to the changes.
The new traffic cameras will photograph the license plates of vehicles violating the law. The first time someone is caught they will be mailed a warning letter. For any new violations after that, they will be mailed a $75 ticket.
Activated camera locations:
- Aurora Ave N at Galer St (Transit Lane)
- 3rd Ave and Stewart St (Transit Lane)
- 5th Ave at Olive Way (Transit Lane)*
- 3rd Ave at James St (Transit Lane)
- 1st Ave at Columbia St (Transit Lane)
- 4th Ave at Battery St (Crosswalk and Intersection Blocking)
Planned camera locations:
- 4th Ave at Jackson St (Crosswalk and Intersection Blocking)
- Westlake Ave N at Valley St/Roy St (Crosswalk and Intersection Blocking)
- 5th Ave at Olive Way (Crosswalk and Intersection Blocking)*
* 5th Ave at Olive Way will have both kinds of cameras, activated on separate dates.
All locations have clear signs and pavement markings, with white lines indicating where the intersection “box” begins, and road markings indicating lanes which are restricted to buses only.
The cameras are located in eight locations in downtown Seattle, South Lake Union, Belltown, Pioneer Square, and State Route 99. These locations were chosen based on their history of problematic and ongoing violations of people blocking the intersection or driving in the transit lane.
The City will begin by turning on cameras which monitor bus lanes in five locations to prevent people from illegally driving where they are not allowed. This helps keeps buses moving, which in turn makes our transit system more reliable, benefiting everyone. Buses move more people at a time than individual cars, and every person taking a bus means one less car on the road, which is an incredibly important way to help address congestion and climate change for everyone.
The City will then turn on cameras at four busy intersections to prevent people driving from blocking crosswalks and intersections after the light turns red (also known as “blocking the box”). It is illegal for drivers to enter an intersection unless they have a clear path to make it all the way through. This behavior is illegal and dangerous, increasing the risk of crashes and preventing people in crosswalks from safely crossing the street. This is especially dangerous for people with disabilities, as people who are blind, use wheelchairs, or have other mobility needs can get stuck in harm’s way in the middle of the street with no safe way back to the sidewalk. Blocking the box also increases congestion, preventing people from moving and bringing traffic to a standstill.
Traffic Enforcement Camera Locations
SDOT announced the new camera locations and installed signs in November 2021 to make sure people had time to learn the rules of the road and avoid receiving tickets. SDOT has published this announcement in 10 languages, and will continue to share reminders on social media, with community based organizations, and through public service announcements.
Under state law, half of the net revenue from the traffic cameras will go to a Washington Traffic Safety Commission fund for bicycle, pedestrian and non-motorized safety projects, and the other half of the net revenue must be used to build safety and mobility improvements for people with disabilities in Seattle. SDOT plans to invest this in building more accessible walk signals which vibrate and make a noise to let people with limited vision or hearing know when it is safe to cross the street.
The cameras will work like photo-enforcement cameras in other parts of Seattle which issue tickets for red light violations or speeding in school safety zones. This will mean fewer police officers making in-person traffic stops, so that police can focus on other public safety needs. This also makes enforcement more consistent, objective, and fair.
To protect privacy, the cameras will only record vehicle license plates and not the people inside the car. The photos are only intended to be used for enforcing the bus lane and blocking the box laws, and are not intended for other law enforcement action.