The City of Federal Way Police Department is announcing the installation of new School Zone Speed Cameras and additional Red Light Safety Cameras.

The speed cameras are located near the Twin Lakes Elementary School and the Saghalie Middle School. A new Red-Light safety camera is also now installed at a new intersection at S 312th Street and Pacific Highway S.

All of these cameras will capture still images and video of traffic violators beginning December 1, 2009.

During an initial 30-day warning period, Federal Way police will issue warning notices to the registered owners of vehicles that exceed the 20 mph speed limit at these school zone locations or to the owners of vehicles who do not fully stop for red lights at the new intersection approaches.

There is no fine for this warning notice. Citations will be issued for violations starting on December 31st.

“The School Zone cameras will help protect children in high traffic school zones. The warning period gives drivers the opportunity to check their speed and comply with our school zone safety program before actual citations begin,” said Lieutenant Mark Bensen of the Federal Way Police Traffic Unit. “The intent of this program is to alert drivers to the presence of school zones, improve voluntary compliance in these reduced speed zone areas, and increase safety.”

The city selected the location of speed cameras based on a history of violations and proximity to two schools. Automated school zone speed enforcement enhances the City’s current photo enforcement program.

Since it’s inception in August 2008, the City’s photo enforcement program has helped to protect drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians from injuries or crashes caused by red-light running.

“The intent of our intersection safety program is to get drivers to obey traffic signals and change the behavior of red-light running. This is about public safety, and collisions resulting from red-light violations are completely preventable,” said Bensen.

Speed cameras will operate during specific school hours and monitor both directions of travel along SW 320th near Twin Lakes Elementary School and on 21st Ave S and SW Campus Drive.

The system’s speed detection technology is synchronized with the flashing school zone lights to capture images of every vehicle exceeding the posted school zone speed limit. The fixed-speed sites have been posted with photo enforcement signs to provide ample warning to drivers of the presence of speed cameras.

The new Red-Light Safety cameras will operate on a 24-hour basis and are also posted with signs.

The City contracts with American Traffic Solutions, Inc. (ATS) to administer its safety program. The Federal Way Police Department reviews and approves each violation prior issuing warnings.