Tacoma says new traffic camera vendor will net them more traffic violations

TACOMA, Wash. — The City of Tacoma says a new traffic camera vendor will net them more traffic violations.

The city areas with the cameras in place saw fewer crashes, but in places like outside Downing Elementary near Orchard and North 26th, they say the new cameras will be better at tracking violators.

The Tacoma City Council agreed to replace the city's current vendor for 16 traffic safety cameras after an 11-year contract.

According to KIRO 7’s partner, the News Tribune, the new radar cameras from SENSYS America on a five-year, $5-million contract are capable of tracking several cars across up to six lanes of traffic and getting positions of cars up to 20 times a second.

The city says that will lead to safer streets but it also means more violations will be reported.

In three years, Tacoma officials say traffic accidents went from 95 down to 76 where cameras are positioned.

There’s an option in the contract to add to the 16 cameras, but whether that would happen and where they would be hasn't yet been discussed, the city says.

Cox Media Group