To improve safety of school children traveling to class, the City is launching a School Zone Safety Camera Pilot Program. The City will use automated cameras to deter speeding, not punish, by encouraging safer driving in school zones. The school zone safety cameras will be located along NE 195th Street.

The program prioritizes privacy, fairness, and equity and is part of a larger vision to create livable, walkable neighborhoods and complement traditional traffic calming strategies. The program is grounded in data, public input, and a shared desire to prevent crashes before they happen.

Protecting Woodinville. Preventing Crashes.

In early 2025, the City's consultant conducted a traffic safety and equity analysis across multiple school zones. The study identified NE 195th Street (between 136th Avenue NE and 130th Avenue NE) as a priority location for automated enforcement.

Traffic data revealed that more than 90% of vehicles exceeded the posted speed limit during school hours. Even more concerning, a significant share of drivers was traveling more than 10 mph over the school zone limit, even during peak student activity. Despite no serious injuries reported during the study window, the data signals an immediate need for intervention

This corridor is more than just a pass-through for vehicles but a vital community connector. NE 195th Street links students, families, and neighbors to Woodin Elementary School, Woodinville High School, Rotary Park, and surrounding residential areas. It’s a shared space that serves not only transportation but daily life. By coming together to address speeding along this route, we can make this corridor and the surrounding areas calmer, more welcoming, and safer for everyone.

Protecting Woodinville. Preventing Crashes.

In early 2025, the City's consultant conducted a traffic safety and equity analysis across multiple school zones. The study identified NE 195th Street (between 136th Avenue NE and 130th Avenue NE) as a priority location for automated enforcement.

Traffic data revealed that more than 90% of vehicles exceeded the posted speed limit during school hours. Even more concerning, a significant share of drivers was traveling more than 10 mph over the school zone limit, even during peak student activity. Despite no serious injuries reported during the study window, the data signals an immediate need for intervention

This corridor is more than just a pass-through for vehicles but a vital community connector. NE 195th Street links students, families, and neighbors to Woodin Elementary School, Woodinville High School, Rotary Park, and surrounding residential areas. It’s a shared space that serves not only transportation but daily life. By coming together to address speeding along this route, we can make this corridor and the surrounding areas calmer, more welcoming, and safer for everyone.

How it Works

Targeted Enforcement in School Zones

Automated enforcement technology is used to monitor vehicle speeds only during active school zone hours, when students and pedestrians are most likely to be present. These times align with school start and dismissal schedules and will be clearly posted with signage. To begin, the program will include a two-month warning period, during which violators receive warnings instead of fines. Reviews will be conducted every six months to evaluate impact.

When a vehicle is detected traveling over the posted speed limit, the system captures a photo of the license plate only using a visible flash — not the driver or any passengers. The vendor conducts an initial review for accuracy, followed by a secondary review and verification by the Woodinville Police Department. If confirmed, a Notice of Infraction is mailed to the registered vehicle owner, including a timestamped image and instructions to pay or contest the citation. This approach allows for fair, consistent enforcement while maintaining strong privacy protections.

Protecting Privacy and Upholding Trust

Community trust is the foundation of this initiative, and the City is committed to protecting personal privacy at every step. Under State law (RCW 46.63.220):

• Cameras may only record images of the vehicle and license plate not the occupants.
• All images and data must be securely stored and deleted once no longer needed.
• Public disclosure is strictly prohibited as is the sale or misuse of data.

When selecting the vendor, the City prioritized companies that demonstrated strong commitments to privacy protection and local accountability. In addition to meeting all legal requirements, the City is mandating further safeguards, including automatic redaction of images and prompt deletion of data once it is no longer needed, to protect privacy and maintain public confidence in the program.

Measuring Success, Staying Transparent

As a two-year pilot, this program will be closely monitored and evaluated. Its success will be measured through changes in driver behavior, reductions in speeding, and improved safety on key corridors.

Each year, the City will release a public report detailing:

• How many citations were issued
• Trends in traffic speed and volume
• Crash data from the enforcement area
• Revenue collected and how it was used

These reports will be shared online, presented to the City Council, and submitted to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. To ensure accessibility for all, key materials will be translated into multiple languages when requested.

To begin, the program will include a two-month warning period, during which violators receive warnings instead of fines. Reviews will be conducted every six months to evaluate impact.

Where Does the Money Go?

Revenue from safety camera citations will be used only for traffic safety, not profit. Washington State law (RCW 46.63.220) requires that these funds be reinvested in the community.

Revenue will support:

• Camera installation, operation, and maintenance
• Roadway safety improvements, particularly in low-income neighborhoods and areas with high crash rates
• Improvements along the NE 195th Street corridor
• Contributions to the Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Fund, a statewide program supporting pedestrian and bicyclist safety

The City is committed to using all program revenue in a fair, transparent, ethical, and equitable manner. Any remaining funds will go toward local safety efforts will be reinvested into local traffic safety improvements across Woodinville. Initial revenue will support analysis and design efforts for the NE 195th Street corridor, followed by project proposals aligned with the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). At least a proportional share of revenue will also benefit census tracts with lower incomes and higher crash rates, ensuring investments directly improve safety for vulnerable populations. Importantly, the school zone safety camera vendors are paid a flat fee, not a percentage of citations, ensuring the system has no financial incentive to issue more tickets (RCW 46.63.220(12)).

Stay Informed

Check the School Zone Safety Camera webpage for project updates, construction schedules, and traffic information. You can also follow the City on social media for the latest updates.