Highway speed camera pilot program being considered in Olympia

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A public hearing with testimony was underway in Olympia on Wednesday afternoon to discuss a House Bill that would test out speed cameras on highways.

House Bill 2485 is under bipartisan sponsorship from Republican Rep. Andrew Barkis and Suzanne Schmidt, along with Democrat Rep. Jake Fey.

The bill would establish an automated highway speed safety camera pilot program.

It would allow the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) the ability to test out two to three automated traffic safety cameras on state highways.

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The bill’s text reads: “The goals of the automated highway speed safety camera pilot program are to test speed camera technology, determine the impact on speeding behavior in areas of testing, and compile public response to the use of traffic safety cameras on highways.”

In the bill, WSDOT will also work with Washington State Patrol (WSP) to select technology and figure out the placement of cameras in high-speed, collision, or fatality locations.

There will also be warning signs placed before the cameras, and public outreach will be done. From there, the bill’s text says that the agencies should develop and implement a process to collect and report pilot program data.

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“Automated traffic safety cameras may only take pictures of the vehicle and the vehicle license plates. Ticketing of violators using vehicle speed information captured by automated traffic safety cameras authorized under the pilot program is prohibited during the pilot program.”

The bill text says WSDOT can inform vehicle owners by mail of the vehicle’s rate of speed and the fine the law would have allowed to be imposed.

Barkis said, "745 in 2022, that is the number of people who passed away on our state highways." He stated that the 2023 data, which is still being gathered, could show that more than 800 people died on state roads.

"We have seen a massive decline in our state troopers,” Barkis told KOMO News. "In the meantime, we have a problem. We're seeing an incredible increase in fatalities."

Two people who testified in the meeting were not on board with the bill and said it is too much government overreach and people have been taxed enough already.

Tim Eyman, who spoke against the bill during the public hearing, said, "These cameras are so pernicious, so everywhere, and the idea of basically having a state patrol person riding in your passenger seat, ticketing you every time you creep above the speed limit is so insanely dangerous."

KOMO News stopped by the I-5 Sea-Tac Rest Area to see what other drivers thought. Ismael, a truck driver, said, "There are already cameras everywhere, so they want to put more cameras? I think there's better ways."

Another driver said, "I think it's a good idea because it'll make people slow down."

“We have to do something,” Barkis said. “We need more troopers on the road. We need more technology. We need accountability in all public safety...this is just another tool to do that."

WSDOT would have to provide a progress report to the governor and transportation committees by Sept. 30 of this year.