LYNNWOOD, Wash. — During Monday night's Lynnwood City Council Meeting, council members voted in favor -- six to zero, with one council member abstaining, to approve a new ordinance that would add extra fees to fines for red light tickets and speed zone tickets.
"I think that I'm very much in favor of increasing awareness of drivers around school zones by ensuring there is an appropriate fine if they are putting our children in our community in danger," said Councilmember Patrick Decker.
The changes proposed by Lynnwood Police Chief James Nelson would add a $25 fine for people caught on camera running red lights and speeding near schools. Drivers could pay a range of $150 dollars to $300 depending on how much over the speed limit they were going.
The cameras don't sit well with some residents.
"Photo enforcement tickets, this is a robbery of the people," said Ted Hikel during the public comment portion of Monday’s meeting.
The ordinance states the additional $25 fee would go toward a fund supporting traffic safety enforcement within the city. According to data presented by the police department, 85% of red light violations over the past five years were drivers with vehicles not registered in Lynnwood.
"I too, plan to approve this, this is a voluntary fee it is not just for anybody you can choose to not pay the fee by following the laws, so it's voluntary,” said Council President, Shannon Sessions.
No one with the Lynnwood Police Department was able to speak with KING 5 on Wednesday. But a spokesperson with the department said the ordinance could go into effect as early as next week.