Seattle, Wa. looking to raise money with more speed cams

Politicians= Always looking for ways to raise revenue anyway they can..Oh..I mean promote safety....

Licata looks at boosting traffic-ticket revenue
By Jack Broom

Seattle Times staff reporter

A Seattle City Council member is proposing that increased use of automated "speed vans" and red-light cameras help plug a $4.5 million hole in the city's budget created by the decision this week to end the city's controversial "head tax."

Councilmember Nick Licata acknowledged that speed vans and red-light cameras are unpopular with motorists, but he said drivers' disdain might be eased if the revenue were earmarked for safer streets and sidewalks, instead of going into the city's general fund.

Licata said the city would need approval from the Legislature for broader use of the "speed vans," now allowed only in school zones. Although the vans are staffed with officers, the ticket-writing process is automated. The driver's speed is noted and citations are sent out without taking the officer's time to make a stop and prepare a citation.

Licata, who sits on the council's budget and public safety committees, said it's not clear how much revenue the speed vans would bring in, but it would be supplemented by revenue from red-light cameras, being expanded from the original six cameras in 2006 to 30 cameras.