by According to The Olympian, on Tuesday (March 2), a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit alleging that 18 Washington cities, including Burien, were charging too much for traffic violations caught by red light cameras.
This means that all Washington state cities with red light cameras will be able to continue charging their current fines, many of which are set at $101 and above.
The “order of dismissal” was issued by U.S. District Court Judge John C. Coughenour in Seattle, and this ends a lawsuit in which more than 40 drivers claimed that fines issued from red light cameras exceeded the amount intended by state law.
As we’ve previously reported, attorneys for the plaintiffs were seeking class-action status over a 2005 law that says traffic-camera fines “shall not exceed the amount of the fine issued for other parking infractions within the jurisdiction,” according to the complaint.
Burien has five red light cameras, which have been up and running since last March, and according to a city e-newsletter, were averaging “around 540 infractions per month” back in October 2009 – equaling a projected gross of over $654,000 in its first year of operation.
Burien currently sends out a $101 fine for red light infractions, with five cameras operating at these three intersections (see map below):
- 1st Avenue South at SW 148th Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 152nd Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 160th Street
View Red Light Cameras in Burien WA in a larger map
The camera earning the most money currently is the westbound one at SW 148th Street and 1st Ave South, which (as of Oct. 2009) generated about 35% of the total infractions, or 189 per month (just over 6 per day), equals to a monthly gross of $19,089 – or more than $229,000 annually, which on its own surpasses the original citywide $200k projection.
The cameras operate 24 hours a day and capture still photos and video of every vehicle that runs a red light at the intersection. After being processed by manufacturer RedFlex, the videos are accessed by Burien police through a website, where they are analyzed by an officer who decides whether or not to send out a ticket.
Other cities named in the lawsuit included:
- Auburn
- Bellevue
- Bonney Lake
- Bremerton
- Federal Way
- Fife
- Issaquah
- Lacey
- Lake Forest Park
- Lakewood
- Lynnwood
- Puyallup
- Renton
- SeaTac
- Seattle
- Spokane
- Tacoma
So, to all your speeders out there – don’t expect any reduction in red light camera fines.
And to the City of Burien (and all other cities with these device$) – let’s hope you put the massive revenues from this semi-automatic “cash cow” to good use during these economic times.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against 19 Cities, Including Burien, Over Red Light Camera Fines
- Burien’s Red Light Cameras On Track To Gross Over $654,000 In First Year, Nearly 3x Projected Revenue
- Burien’s Red Light Camera Citations Are “In The Mail”
- City Official Addresses Red Light Camera Concerns
- Red Light Cams Go Live Sun.;To Bring In $200k In 1st Year?
- Burien Speeders Beware: Red Light Cameras Start Mar. 1st
With just a handful of weeks to go before Election Day Nov. 4, we at the B-Town Blog welcome our latest Advertiser: Julia Garratt for Judge.
Julia is running for King County Superior Court, Position 22.
Julia served as Judge Pro Tem, King County Superior Court, for ten years.
She has served as both a prosecutor and a public defender.
She earned her BA at the University of Washington and her law degree at Gonzaga.
The Municipal League of King County has rated her “Outstanding.”
She is endorsed by the Seattle Times.
“Judges are public servants and our community is best served if those positions are filled by individuals who can balance hard work, compassion, integrity and wisdom in upholding the laws of the State of Washington,” she said.
Learn more about Julia Garratt at her website: www.garratt4judge.com
UPDATE: We misspoke about this last night – because Laura Gene Middaugh got over 50% of the vote, she will run unopposed in November, so good job Matt, but better luck next time…
He may not have garnered the large number of votes that his incumbent competitor did, but as of 10:30pm Tuesday night, Burien’s own Matt Hale (profiled first on the BTB here) looks like he’s going to make it onto the November ballot since today’s primary was a “top two” election and “Write-in” didn’t get enough votes (right on Matt – you beat “Write-in”!):
| Superior Court Judges Of The Superior Court – Position 26 |
| Laura Gene Middaugh | 74580 | 76.03% |
| Matthew R. Hale | 23310 | 23.76% |
| Write-in | 204 | 0.21 |
by Mark Neuman
Matt Hale has been starting early and thinking big since his early days here in Burien, and he’s still tackling early and big things today.
The 1998 graduate of Highline High School, who was already taking college courses at age 17, is running for a seat on the King County Superior Court.
He’s wasting little time pursing his longtime dream.
“I’ve always wanted to serve on the bench. I was talking with a friend about my goals and he said ‘Well, why don’t you run now?’ And I decided ‘I’ll do it.’”
You may have seen his orange and blue yard signs around town recently.
He’s taking on two-term incumbent Laura Gene Middaugh, wife of State Senator Adam Kline.
Matt is currently an attorney at Wiener, Lambka & Deutscher, a Seattle-based personal injury firm.
He earned an academic scholarship that helped pay his tuition at Gonzaga University Law School. He earned his BA in Political Science at Gonzaga. Before that, he pursued writing and public speaking while earning his AA at Highline Community College.
His work experience has included employment at local hardware stores. In Spokane, Matt helped counsel people in crisis, answering an emergency telephone hotline.
He feels one change the court might look at is the role played by the citizen juror.
“A friend of mine was called and he told the judge that to serve might literally cost him his house. He was living from check to check,” Matt says.
“Perhaps there might be a way in the future for the court system to ease the burden of jury duty.”
The mere process of running for office has been a learning experience.
“Campaigning has helped me more fully realize how wonderful not only Burien is, but what great people the residents of King County really are.”
“I am moved by the importance of the service to the community that judges provide from the bench. That knowledge and awareness, in itself, is humbling,” he said.
You can meet Matt, his wife Nicole, and his team at a campaign fundraiser this Sunday afternoon, July 20, at HiLine Lanes, 15733 Ambaum Blvd SW, in Burien. It runs from 1 to 4pm.
Find more info go to: www.peopleformatthewrhale.com
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