The City Council has approved updates to the City of Tacoma’s Automated Traffic Safety Camera Program, advancing its Vision Zero goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2035.
The maximum penalty for a camera-issued infraction will increase from $124 to $145, effective January 1, 2026. The updates align the City of Tacoma’s municipal code with new Washington state legislation (RCW 46.63.220), which standardizes the maximum penalty for infractions. Tacoma residents receiving public assistance who are first-time violators are eligible for a 50 percent penalty reduction. A payment plan option is also available for all residents.
Other elements of the updated program are as follows:
- An Automated Enforcement Task Force comprised of seven community members, a Tacoma Police Department representative, and other City of Tacoma staff, developed a framework for evaluating future camera placements. This framework is data-driven for site selection, with each new proposed location undergoing an analysis on livability, accessibility, and economics for all Tacoma residents, including those from under-represented communities.
- The City of Tacoma can now consider installing safety cameras in new, high-risk areas as authorized by Washington state law. These include public park zones, hospital zones, and other locations identified by data as having a high risk of crashes due to excessive speed.
- Funds generated from new cameras must now be reinvested by the City of Tacoma directly into traffic safety activities. This includes construction projects, road maintenance, and infrastructure changes designed to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, like the implementation of “complete streets” designs.
“Automated cameras are a proven component of a comprehensive traffic safety strategy, and I want to thank our Washington state legislators for making it possible for us to authorize their expanded use,” said At-Large Council Member Kristina Walker. “This new legislation paves the way for us to implement an expanded automatic traffic safety program in 2026, giving us a chance to responsibly use the best tools available to ensure drivers in our community slow down. I have no doubt that automated traffic safety cameras will help us protect high-risk areas, and I encourage everyone to put safety first when behind the wheel.”
“I strongly support steps that bring us closer to a future with no traffic fatalities,” said District 2 Council Member Sarah Rumbaugh. “This program will encourage safer driving and it answers a long standing request from the people of Northeast Tacoma. My community has been calling for this since my first days on the Council and I am grateful that the recent change in state law made it possible. When drivers slow down, lives are protected.”
“Though I was skeptical at first, seeing the data convinced me that this program accomplished the most important goal: it changes the behavior of those speeding in our communities,” said District 4 Council Member Sandesh Sadalge. “It also shows that most violators are visitors who are cutting through our communities, and my district has a large number of these types of corridors. The program includes early warnings and lower first-time penalties for low-income residents, and the monies collected from this program will not only fund the program but provide for upgrades residents have asked for in the future. People throughout District 4 have urged me to take action on neighborhood traffic safety since I took office, and I believe this approach is a well-thought-out and equitable solution.”
Additional details on the City’s Automated Traffic Safety Camera Program, including answers to frequently asked questions, are available on the City’s website.