Redmond OKs pilot for school‑zone speed cameras; council requires data be covered by police data governance policy

The Redmond City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance authorizing a pilot program that uses automated traffic safety cameras to detect speed zone infractions in school zones and incorporated state statute language into the measure. Council also unanimously approved an amendment requiring that data collected by the pilot be governed by the Redmond Police Department’s data governance policy.

Council Vice President Forsyth pulled the item from the consent agenda to propose the amendment. “I move to amend that the data collected from the speed camera pilot program be included in the Redmond Police data governance policy passed on 12/03/2024,” Forsyth said. Council voted 7‑0 to add the amendment.

Police Chief Daryl Lowe told the council he had no concern with the amendment and confirmed the department will add specific language to include the speed camera enforcement program in the policy. Chief Lowe also said state law already prescribes records retention for traffic enforcement; council staff referenced RCW 46.63.220 as incorporated into the ordinance.

Council members asked about data sharing with outside agencies. Chief Lowe said the department will not share automated enforcement data with out‑of‑state agencies for investigations that would not be crimes under Washington law and noted applicable guardrails, including the state records retention schedule and existing policies limiting cooperation in certain federal immigration matters. Council Vice President Forsyth and others said the amendment strengthens privacy assurances for residents.

The ordinance was described in staff materials as AM number 25089 and ordinance number 3216, and it passed as amended in a 6‑1 final vote. Council members said the pilot will initially focus on school zones and that staff will return with specifics on locations, vendor arrangements and data governance text to be added to existing police policy.