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Content current as of 05/05/26

Automated Enforcement Cameras

Automated enforcement is an important tool in advancing the City’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating fatal and serious injury crashes by 2035. While redesigning roadways for lower speeds and safer conditions remains one of the most effective long-term solutions, automated enforcement provides a more immediate way to improve safety. Research shows this technology reduces average travel speeds, lowers crash rates, and encourages safer driving behaviors at locations where cameras are installed.

Background

Tacoma’s Automated Enforcement Program began in 2008, initially fully managed by the Tacoma Police Department. In 2021, program administration and financial responsibility was transitioned to the Public Works Department. The Tacoma Police Department continues to support the program administration through reviewing citations. The City of Tacoma is currently expanding the program in line with recent legislation, with additional details available on the Tacoma’s New Speed Safety Cameras web page.

The City contracts with an automated enforcement vendor to provide and operate photo enforcement technology, including the cameras, software, and processing systems. The vendor also mails citations approved by enforcement personnel. The vendor supports program administration while the City retains oversight and directs revenues toward safety improvements.

Automated Enforcement Technology

Automated enforcement cameras capture photos or video of vehicles to check for traffic violations like speeding or running red lights. Tacoma’s system uses radar, which measures speed through the Doppler Effect—sending radio waves and detecting frequency changes as they bounce off moving vehicles.

When a car exceeds the speed limit, the radar triggers the camera to record, using a flash for clear images at night or in bad weather. The equipment works in all conditions and isn’t hardwired, making it flexible and easy to set up where needed.

Existing Automated Enforcement Camera Locations

The current Automated Enforcement program includes fourteen (14) camera locations:

    • One (1) speed camera
    • Four (4) school zone cameras
    • Nine (9) red light cameras

The Bay Street speed camera was originally implemented as a pilot project and was the first speed camera deployed in the state.

Locations are shown in the map and table below.

Map of Tacoma, Washington showing the locations of all existing traffic enforcement cameras, including speed cameras, red light cameras, and school speed zone cameras. The program includes 14 total camera locations: 4 school zone cameras, 9 red light cameras, and 1 speed camera.

Automated Enforcement Camera Locations (2025)

Type Location Direction
Speed 2990 block of Bay Street Northbound
School Zone 5500 block of Pacific Avenue Northbound
School Zone 5501 block of Pacific Avenue Southbound
School Zone 5100 block of North 26th Street Westbound
School Zone 5000 block of North 26th Street Eastbound
Red Light East 38th Street & East McKinley Avenue Eastbound
Red Light South 56th Street & South Oakes Street Eastbound
Red Light South 56th Street & South Tacoma Way Southbound
Red Light South Tacoma Way & South 74th Street Eastbound
Red Light South Tacoma Way & South 74th Street Southbound
Red Light Hosmer Street & South 84th Street Northbound
Red Light Pacific Avenue & South 72nd Street Southbound
Red Light Pacific Avenue & South 72nd Street Northbound
Red Light North Pearl Street & North 26th Street Southbound

Future Automated Enforcement Camera Locations

In 2024, the Legislature passed House Bill 2384 which broadened the authority for local jurisdictions to use automated enforcement. The bill expanded eligible camera types and locations beyond school zones and red-light intersections to now include high-crash locations, park zones, and hospital zones.

Automated Enforcement Task Force

To guide the expansion effort, Public Works convened an Automated Enforcement Task Force composed of community members representing a broad range of perspectives. Staff from the Office of Equity and Human Rights, Tacoma Police Department, and Public Works Department participated as well.

Over the course of six meetings, the Task Force members discussed balancing equity and effectiveness. Overall, the Task Force strongly recommended a data-driven approach to site selection and clear, consistent communication and outreach to support transparency, build trust, and educate the public on the role of automated enforcement in improving safety.

Expansion of Camera Locations

Since the Automated Enforcement Task Force, staff has since developed a methodology for identifying new locations based on crash and speed data, land use, and other factors.

For the first phase, five locations were identified, with a total of eight speed cameras to be installed:

      • South Sprague Avenue (two cameras, one each direction)
      • Pacific Avenue (two cameras, one each direction)
      • SR-509 (one camera, southbound direction)
      • Norpoint Way NE (one camera, uphill direction)
      • Portland Avenue (two cameras, one each direction)

More information on how specific locations were chosen can be found in this ArcGIS StoryMap, which explains the data and process used for location selection: Tacoma’s New Speed Safety Cameras.

Frequently Asked Questions

When a driver commits a traffic violation in an area monitored by an automated speed camera, the camera detects it and records the event. Enforcement staff then review the photos and video to determine whether a violation occurred. They base their decision solely on the evidence captured by the camera. If they decide there was no violation, the system deletes the recording. If they confirm a violation, the system sends the record to the court to create a case. After that, a notice of violation is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

Pay Online via the ZeroFatality.com Portal

Novoa Global uses ZeroFatality.com for camera-violation processing. Through their Citation Review Portal, you can:

  • Review photographic evidence
  • View violation details
  • Pay your fine via credit card or ACH

You’ll need your license plate number and the unique password/PIN printed on your original citation to log in.

In Person or By Mail

Mail a check or money order (include ticket/case number) to:
Pierce County District Court
930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 239
Tacoma, WA 98402

Or pay in person at the same address during business hours.

Don’t wait! Make sure to respond or pay within 30 days to avoid penalties.

Automated enforcement tickets do not count as moving violations under State law. Unlike citations issued by police officers, they won’t appear on your driving record and are not reported to insurance companies.

State law has built in safeguards for privacy and data protection. Automated enforcement camera systems are governed by RCW 46.63.220 which includes several key data privacy protections:

  • Image Restrictions: Cameras may only capture the vehicle and license plate—not faces of drivers or passengers
  • Data Use: Images and data are only for authorized city/county use, not public, and not admissible in unrelated court cases
  • Retention Limits: Data must be deleted when no longer needed for enforcement

Annual Report

A report must be published annually that includes traffic crash data and the number of citations issued. The report is updated each April or May when the Washington Department of Transportation provides the final crash data.

2024 Annual Report