Shoreline approves automated school-zone speed cameras after debate over privacy and fines

The Shoreline City Council on March 30 adopted Ordinance 10-55, authorizing automated traffic-safety cameras in school zones and permitting the city manager to contract with a vendor to operate the program. The ordinance passed 6–1 after council approved an amendment that created a lower fine tier for minor violations.

Council members, staff and residents spent much of the meeting debating trade-offs among pedestrian safety, privacy, equity and program cost. Transportation Manager Kendra Dodinski told the council the proposal targets Meridian Park Elementary due to repeated speeding and rising serious-injury crashes and described the staff recommendation and state reporting requirements. "Proposed ordinance number 10-55 . . . authorizes use of traffic safety cameras for school zone enforcement, which would be used at Meridian Park Elementary if adopted," she said.

Why it matters: supporters said cameras are the most practical enforcement tool where police staffing is limited…