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Council advances speed‑camera ordinance after privacy debate, directs revenue to traffic safety
Summary
After a lengthy discussion about effectiveness and privacy, Westminster council passed first reading of an ordinance authorizing automated vehicle identification enforcement corridors (targeting 72nd and 92nd avenues) and added an amendment directing any revenue to traffic‑safety improvements; the vote was 4–3.
Westminster City Council on July 13 advanced an ordinance (Council Bill 28) to authorize automated vehicle identification (AVI) enforcement corridors for traffic violations — primarily speeding, with provisions for red‑light and school‑bus stop‑arm enforcement — after an extended debate about privacy, data retention and effectiveness.
Staff described the program’s scope: initial corridors under consideration were 72nd and 92nd avenues, with vendors estimating an annual operational cost in the rough range of $264,000 for four direction‑specific camera installations. Police Chief Norm Harbor told council vendors estimated a break‑even at roughly 10–12 summonses per direction per day and said citation rates typically decline over an 18‑month period as driver behavior adjusts.
Assistant City Attorney Matthew Munch explained legal safeguards that will be written into any vendor contract and reflected in the ordinance: images and plate reads tied to violations are confidential, are exempted from public disclosure under state law in limited circumstances, and must be destroyed after a statutorily prescribed retention period. Councilors pushed staff to address data‑privacy protections in procurement documents.
Several councilors and community members urged caution. Councilor Azadi and others pressed for a broader traffic‑safety plan that prioritizes street design, targeted patrolling and other non‑automated measures, and voiced concern about infrastructure that could be repurposed by a future council. Supporters said automated enforcement is an affordable, immediately deployable tool to reduce dangerous speeding on corridors where redesign would require large capital investments.
Councilors amended the motion to direct revenue (if any) from the program toward traffic‑safety improvements; the amended motion passed on first reading 4–3. Staff said they will proceed to procurement and recommended returning the contract award to council for final approval; staff also committed to incorporate specific privacy and reporting requirements in the RFP and contract.
Next steps: staff will draft procurement documents reflecting council guidance; the city manager said the contract can be elevated to council for approval even if it falls within the manager’s signature authority.
