To promote pedestrian safety during summer school and before local children start school in fall, the City of Renton has installed the first speed camera at McKnight Middle School and a stepped-up enforcement campaign against drivers who speed, run red lights, and do not stop for school buses.

“One of our top priorities is the prevention of needless pedestrian accidents and injuries, and speed cameras are an important tool in reining in reckless drivers,” said Mayor Denis Law. “Speeding near neighborhood schools is a very serious problem and I urge everyone to slow down. Speed cameras are a great tool to support safe streets.”

The city’s first permanent speed camera is being installed on Edmonds Avenue Northeast near McKnight Middle School. The city has also installed warning signs near the intersection that alert drivers to the school zone and the speed cameras. There will be a 30-day warning period during the McKnight summer school program. Violators at this site will be mailed a warning notice instead of a ticket. After the warning period, the registered owner of the offending car will receive a ticket for $124 if the 20 mph school zone speed limit is exceeded by 6 to 15 mph and $250 if the speed limit is exceeded by 16 mph or more.

The City of Renton has a contract with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to provide the photo enforcement program. ATS is installing and maintaining all equipment related to this program and process.

The cameras operate during school times and capture still photographs and video of every vehicle that exceeds the school zone speed limit. Each fixed speed site is posted with a photo enforcement sign in addition to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control devices approved for school zones.

If a violation occurs, a notice of infraction will be sent to the vehicle’s owner. Violators may view a 12-second video clip through the web site www.ViolationInfo.com, provided by ATS.

Photos are not taken until the law is broken, and the cameras only capture pictures of the rear of the offending vehicle and license plate. These cameras pose no threat to privacy and cut down on vehicles violating speed regulations during school hours.

The registered owner who receives the notice can pay the fine using one of the following methods: pay the fine online at www.ViolationInfo.com, by mail, by phone using a credit card, or in person at Renton Municipal Court. Violators may also request a hearing on the notice of infraction.

More information on these options is available on the web pages of the Renton Police Department or Renton Municipal Court at rentonwa.gov.

The city will be installing additional speed cameras that capture speed violations in school zones during school hours at Renton High School and Talbot Hill Elementary School. A 30- day warning period will also be enacted for each of these fixed speed sites when operational.

For more information on Renton’s Photo Enforcement Program, visit rentonwa.gov.