The City of Bellevue is adding two new traffic cameras that will automatically ticket drivers who run red lights at the intersections of 148th Avenue NE & Bel-Red Road and 148th Avenue NE & Main Street.
For the first 30 days, the cameras will just issue warnings to drivers who run red lights. Then, starting February 2, 2010, drivers will receive $124.00 tickets in the mail.
A class action is underway alleging the traffic cameras issue undue traffic tickets, generating excessive revenue for the cities in which they operate.
From the time of the City of Seattle’s first installation of cameras in July 2006, through 2009, the city has collected approximately $8 million in revenue on 89,100 red-light and speeding tickets.
Since October 2009, the City of Bellevue has issued 2,700 tickets to drivers caught by existing cameras for speeding by Stevenson or Lake Hills elementary schools.
Source: The Seattle Times
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This is very bad news – especially since the first red light cameras were installed under the guise of a “test” program which was supposed to increase the safety of children in school zones. From what I understand, the new cameras are not in school zones and seem to be obvious attempts by the City to generate more revenue from it’s citizens. Too much big brother. I would like to know which council people voted for them – they will never receive another vote from me.