Photo enforcement tech in full effect in Moses Lake
Enforcement and traffic monitoring cameras are one tool in law enforcement's toolbox to solve crimes and enforce the law. The model shown here from Flock Safety can read license plates which law enforcement can use to track movement of suspects. Others can monitor speed and an automated violation can be mailed to speeders.
COURTESY PHOTO/FLOCK SAFETY
MOSES LAKE — There has been a significant increase in tickets being issued via photo enforcement technology for running red lights or speeding in school zones when school is in session. The implementation of the tickets began June 6. In June there were only 43 tickets. However, in July the court saw 1,159 tickets from the photo enforcement devices and other citations, combined.
According to Desiree Ochocinski, the Grant County Court Administrator, the tickets will continue at a similar trend to July’s going forward and the court is anticipating a total of 10,000 tickets a year. Most of these devices are in Moses Lake.
“We needed to make sure that the tickets were correct, and information was correct. We had testing with the vendor and the Administrative Office (of the Courts) to make sure that everything was going to come through the system correctly, and that took some time,” Ochocinski said. “So, they were given the approval to go live, but then they still had to work out their processes and so I don't think they filed a lot of tickets in June, but starting July, we definitely started seeing that.”
The tickets are issued similarly to parking tickets which means they’re attached to the vehicle instead of the person. This means the registered owner of the vehicle will receive the ticket, which may not be the same as the person driving.
“It just captures a license plate number, similar to if you were at a park that requires a Discover Pass and you're not in your vehicle,” Ochocinski said. “The only thing that the officer has access to is your vehicle. So, they're going to pull the vehicle’s registered owner information and cite the registered owner. This works the same way.”
The red-light ticket is a fine of $127 and the speeding in school zone ticket depends on the amount over the speed limit the vehicle is going. If the infraction is not paid or responded to in 30 days 33 days if the issue was through a mailed citation - a $52 late fee will be added to the ticket. Total failure to respond may result in the court sending the case to collections.
There is a program in place that allows people who meet certain criteria to receive 50% off their first infraction, according to Ochocinski. This includes people who are receiving temporary assistance for needy families; aged, blind or disabled assistance benefits; medical care services under RCW 74.09.035; pregnant women assistance benefits; WIC program; food stamps or food stamp benefits transferred electronically; refugee resettlement benefits and supplemental security income.
There is a form on the Grant County website that people must fill out to receive the reduction on the ticket.
Correction: People who receive infraction notices have 30 days to respond to them if the infraction was provided in person and 33 days if the infraction was mailed to the resident. The ticket total in the first paragraph is a combination of automated citations from cameras and those issued by officers. This information has been incorporated above. Quincy does not yet have enforcement cameras.