School Zone Speed Safety Camera Program

Photo Enforcement

Photo Enforcement is the use of automated traffic cameras to enforce existing traffic safety laws. In Lake Stevens, the cameras are used to issue violations for speeding in school zones and running red lights.

Photo enforcement efforts are focused on safety. The goal of photo enforcement is to improve safety through a reduction in traffic violations at specific school zones and intersections where data has shown a high level of crashes and/or speed violations. Lake Stevens ordinance is unique in that any process for photo enforcement must go toward traffic safety projects or programs.

The activation of traffic safety cameras began in DATE.

After the Photos are Taken

When a camera snaps a photo of a red light or speeding violation, the citation for the alleged violation gets sent to the owner of the vehicle. Washington law allows for this based on a presumption that the owner was driving the vehicle at the time that the offense was committed. If you were not the driver of the vehicle (i.e., the car was stolen, or under the care, custody and control of another person) an Affidavit of Non-Responsibility stating you were not driving the vehicle at the time can be submitted.
You are able to view pictures and video of the alleged violation. Under the ordinance and statute, the cameras may only take pictures of the vehicle and the vehicle's license plate and only while the infraction is occurring; the photos must not reveal the face of the driver or passengers. Photographs, electronic images or any other personally identifying data from automated traffic safety cameras are for the exclusive use of law enforcement and are prohibited under the statute from release to the public.

Follow these steps if you receive a citation (additional instructions on Notice of Infraction)

Pay your ticket or submit a formal response via LINK, mail, or in person by the due date on your Notice of Infraction (NOI). All card payments, regardless of online or in person, include an additional processing fee.

Decide how to respond. See Related Documents on the sidebar. (MAY CHANGE)
- Declaration of Non-Responsibility. Exceptions of responsibility apply only if the vehicles was sold, stolen, or was in the care, custody, or control of someone other than the registered owner(s).
- Request for Determination on Written Statement (eHearing). There is no option to appeal the decision.
- Financial Hardship & Payment Plan Application.
- Request a Mitigation or Contested Hearing. Submit a request on LINK or complete and mail the section on the back of your NOI.

If you are requesting a hearing, decide which format will work best for you. Hearings are generally held every Tuesday.
- In-person hearing at NAME
- eHearing with a supporting written statement. There is no option to appeal this decision.

Wait for a response from the Office of Administrative Hearings regarding decision or scheduled hearing date. If you have not received a response by the due date on your NOI, please contact EMAIL.

Ticket Processing

Tickets are issued to the speeding vehicle's registered owner, not necessarily the driver.

They are processed like parking tickets in Marysville Municipal court, so they do not appear on your driving record and do not affect your insurance rate.

If you do not respond within 30 days, the infraction is deemed committed, and you may face fees or license suspension.

Options or Responses

-Pay in full - accepts the violation and closes the case. Does not go on driving record.
-Request a payment plan - available through XXXXXXXX
-Request a Mitigation Hearing - accepts fault, asks to explain circumstances
-Request a Contested Hearing - you deny the violation and agree to appear on court scheduled date. The government must prove your guilt with evidnece

If you were not the driver, you may submit a court affidavit stating someone else was driving, an affirmative defense under Washington law.
Key Points for Speeding in a School Zone
-No driving record impact for camera tickets.
-Fines are $145 for first violations and $290 for repeat offenders.
-All program proceeds go into traffic safety projects like bulb outs, crosswalks, and edge paths.

School speed zone photo enforcement

School speed zone enforcement cameras work in a similar way to the red-light photos enforcement. Tow images are captured; the first image of the alleged violation is taken of the vehicle traveling above the predetermined speed with the school zone flashers activated. The second image shows the distance and time the vehicle has traveled with the flashers activated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Lake Stevens installing cameras
Lake Stevens City Council initiated an automated school zone safety program for the purpose of reducing the number of school zone injuries and fatalities resulting from speeding.

City of Lake Stevens Municipal Code regarding Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
Chapter 7.06 Automated Traffic Safety Cameras

What is the City doing about privacy concerns?
The City ordinance and state statute only allow the cameras to take pictures of the vehicle and the vehicle's license plate and only while the infraction is occurring. The photos must not show the face of the driver or passengers, and the City must consider installing the cameras in a manner that minimizes the impact of the camera flash on drivers. Photographs, electronic images or any other personally identifying data from automated traffic safety cameras are for the exclusive use of the law enforcement and are prohibited under the statute from release to the public or to the media.

Why has the City chosen these School Zones?
ADD INFO

How has Lake Stevens informed the community about the Photo Enforcement Program?
City outreach efforts are geared to inform Lake Stevens residents of the safety program, how it works, and locations. To this end, the following outreach is being carried out before cameras are activated.
* Clear and easy-to-read signage.
* Mailings
* Door hangers
* Presentations at City Council meetings
Advertised:
* Builders Exchange
* Everett Herald
* Lake Stevens website - forum section
* Daily Journal of Commerce

What if I can't afford to pay my ticket?
The court has the option for payments over time by requesting a payment plan. A payment plan can be requested without a hearing for traffic, parking, red light and school zone infractions up to 30 days after the citation date. By requesting a payment plan, you admit responsibility for the infraction and may be requested to submit evidence of current inability to pay in full. A payment plan can be requested after a hearing where the court has established fines and/or fees. A payment plan can be requested at the front counter, by, mail or by email. The application (LINK) and payment plan information sheet (LINK) can be completed and emailed to EMAIL for one or more cases.

Why has the City of Lake Stevens installed school zone speed safety cameras?
Safety. This is to make children in school zones safer. School zone safety cameras are installed at the following locations: NAMES

When are the school zone speed safety cameras operational?
School zone speed safety cameras will only by operational while the warning beacons, now at all NUMBER school sites, are flashing. They coincide with short periods of time before and after school when children and parents are most active in the school zones. The cameras will not be active during the summer months.

Who is required to pay the fine?
The infraction is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle captured exceeding the speed limit law in the school zone, however anyone can pay the balance if they are using their own form of payment.

Are payment plans an option?
Time Payments (payment plan option): You may be eligible for a time payment plan with the Municipal Court as outlined in RCW 46.63.110(6). This option must be acted upon prior to the expiration of the due date on the Notice of Infraction (NOI). You will admit responsibility for the infraction and attest that you are not able to pay a monetary obligation in full. This is not an option if you have already been previously grant a payment plan with respect to the same monetary obligation or if you are in noncompliance of an existing or prior payment plan. Please be award that failure to pay the civil penalty in full by your due date, or failure to establish a payment plan with the court, may result in collection action, including garnishment of wages or other assets. To set up time payments with the NAME Municipal Court, or to request information as to how to submit evidence of your inability to pay, please visit the following website: WEBSITE LINK.

Will "points" to assessed on my driving record or reported on my insurance?
An infraction detected through an automated traffic safety camera is a non-criminal offense for which imprisonment may not be imposed as a sanction. The penalty for this infraction, like a parking ticket, will not become part of your driving record. However, failure to respond to a Notice of Infraction, or failure to appear for a requested hearing for the purpose of contesting the determination or for the purpose of explaining mitigating circumstance, may result in the refusal by the department of licensing to renew the vehicle registration until all penalties imposed have been satisfied.

Will a police officer be present at each location?
No. Law enforcement does not have to be present.

Will there be a warning period for the program?
Yes, each camera system will have a warning period of 30 calendar days.

What if I lost my Notice of Infraction?
Please call 1-866-790-4111 and have your license plate number readily available.

What if the registered owner was not driving the vehicle at the time of the infraction?
The registered owner of a vehicle will be mailed the Notice of Infraction. If your vehicle/plate was stolen or you are a rental/lease car agency, you may complete an Affidavit of Non-Responsibility and attach supporting documentation found on www.violationinfo.com. The Affidavit must be received by the due date of your Notice. The Affidavit and supporting documentation will be reviewed and will result in either the dismissal of the notice or the scheduling of an administrative hearing. You will be notified in writing of any action taken.

What if I was not the driver?
If your vehicle was stolen, or sold by you prior to the date of the violation, or was otherwise not in your care, custody, or control at the time of the violation, you may submit a sworn statement to that effect to the Court to rebut the presumption, established in RCW 46.63.075, that you were driving the vehicle at the time of the violation. A Declaration of Non-Responsibility form can be obtained by downloading or printing the form from www.violationinfo.com. Return the completed form to the Municipal Court by email EMAIL or mailing to ADDRESS. you must fill out the Declaration of Non-Responsibility completely. If you fail to fill out completely, you will be notified that the Notice of Infraction will remain in your name. You must return or mail the Declaration of Non-Responsibility to the Court by the due date shown on the front of this Notice of Infraction or the Infraction will remain in your name. EMPLOYERS: As a matter of law, a vehicle registered to an employer/principal that is driven by an employee/agent remains in the "care, custody, and control" of the employer/principal. Thus, the employer/principal is responsible for payment of the infraction penalty and may not transfer that responsibility by submitting a sworn statement. Like a parking infraction, an employee/agent may take responsibility for a traffic camera infraction by submitting payment directly to the Court or by requesting a hearing in his or her name.

Can I receive infractions for other offenses as a result of a school zone speed safety infraction?
No. Drivers who receive school zone camera speed infractions are cited for speed violations only.

What is this photo enforcement ticket for?
On the first page of the Notice of Infraction, locate the paragraph on the left side that begins with "I am fully commissioned police officer for the City of Lake Stevens...". This paragraph will state the violation.

What are the time windows for the school zone photo enforcement?
Lake Stevens Municipal Code: CODE INFO

Have additional questions?

You can call customer service at the following numbers:

Police Department:

Municipal Court:

Scam Alerts

You may received an email or text message from recent "phishing" scams involving licensed drivers. If you suspect an email or text is fake do not click any links in it. Visit Washington State Department of Licensing (LINK) for additional information.
The Office of Administrative Hearings does not send text messages. If there is an outstanding Notice of Infraction on collections, the collection agency NAME may contact you by text. If you are still unsure about the authenticity of a message, email EMAIL for verification.