Kent Police have delayed the start of red-light cameras catching drivers due to “technical challenges beyond our control.”
Police had planned to start the program July 1 at three intersections with warning tickets issued for the first 30 days. But that plan has been delayed to a yet-to-be determined date.
“Once active, there will be a 30-day warning period before ticketing begins,” according to Kent Police. “We will announce the 30-day warning period along with what intersections once they are up and running.
“We anticipated the cameras would be already active…but due to technical challenges beyond our control, they are not.”
Police officials didn’t explain the technical problems.
Crews have installed signs at the intersections to alert drivers to the red-light cameras.
The initial plan released in June included cameras July 1 at:
• Central Avenue North and East Smith Street: northbound and southbound
• Central Avenue North and East James Street: northbound and eastbound
• Kent Des Moines Road and Pacific Highway South: eastbound
After the 30-day warning period, police will start to issue $136 fines to drivers who run red lights.
The second phase will include cameras at:
• 104th Avenue SE and SE 240th Street: eastbound and westbound
• 104th Avenue SE and SE 256th Street: northbound and eastbound
• 84th Avenue South and S 212th Street: northbound and southbound
The City Council in November approved a five-year contract with Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions (ATS) Inc., for as much as $651,000 per year for camera installation and maintenance along with the processing and mailing of infractions. ATS is the same company the city contracts with about $367,000 per year for school traffic zone cameras to catch speeding drivers.
The city will use revenue from the red-light program – estimated at about $1 million to $2 million per year – to fund the purchase later this year of body-worn cameras for 105 officers, another new program in the city.
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