Speed Enforcement in Bellevue
The Bellevue Police Department oversees speed enforcement efforts throughout the city. While issuing traffic citations is one of the department’s most common interactions with the public, officers balance this duty with a broad range of other public safety responsibilities.
To support these efforts, the city uses automated traffic safety cameras, or “speed safety cameras.” These devices help enforce traffic laws by capturing images of vehicles that exceed the speed limit or run red lights. Citations are then issued to the registered owner of the vehicle.
The city launched its photo enforcement program in 2009 to help reduce collisions and improve traffic safety. Today, the program includes speed safety cameras in three school zones and red-light cameras at four arterial intersections
All potential violations are reviewed by the Bellevue Police Department prior to issuing a citation. For more information, please visit the Traffic Services page.
Expanded Use of Speed Safety Cameras
More than 200 cities nationwide, including Seattle and Spokane, use speed safety cameras to support their speed enforcement efforts. According to the U.S Department of Transportation, speed cameras can reduce overall crashes by up to 54% on major roads and are a proven tool for reducing serious injuries and fatalities resulting from high-speed crashes.
In 2025, the Washington State Legislature passed a law (RCW 46.63.250) allowing cities and counties to expand the use of speed safety cameras beyond school speed zones. Under this new law, speed cameras can now be used in additional high-risk areas, including:
- hospital speed zones
- public park speed zones
- school walk zones
- locations with high crash risk from excessive speeds.
What’s Next
As a part of the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan, the City of Bellevue is developing the Speed Safety Camera Program Operations Guide in alignment with the new state legislation. This guide will:
- Incorporate community feedback on the existing and potential expanded program
- Identify locations eligible for new camera installations
- Outline policies and procedures to guide future speed safety camera implementation
Speed Safety Camera Program Operations Guide
Recognizing the safety benefits of speed safety camera programs, Bellevue – along with many other jurisdictions in the region – is evaluating potential expansion in alignment with the new state law.
Before expanding the city’s camera enforcement program, Bellevue will develop the Speed Safety Camera Program Operations Guide to support future implementation. The guide will include policies and procedures that are data-driven, informed by community feedback, and rooted in national best practices. The goal is to ensure a program that is both equitable and effective in improving traffic safety for all road users.
What Will the New Program Guide Include?
With federal funding from the Safe Streets for All grant program, a multi-departmental team at the City of Bellevue is developing the Speed Camera Program Operations Guide. This guide will outline how the program is implemented, managed, and updated over time. Key sections will include:
Camera locations
Bellevue plans to take a phased approach to implementing new camera locations. This will allow the city to evaluate the program’s effectiveness, align with available staffing and resources, and ensure new cameras complement other speed management strategies within the Transportation Department.
Camera placement will be informed by data-driven analysis, including: crash history, speeding patterns, and areas with high pedestrian and bicycle activity. Priority areas may include school zones, high-injury corridors, and streets with documented speeding issues. The city will also engage with the community and analyze the potential impacts to help guide location decisions.
In addition to fixed camera locations, Bellevue may also explore the use of mobile camera units that can be moved to different locations at least every 60 days. These units offer flexibility in enforcement; help address emerging problem areas and increase public awareness of speed limits citywide.
Community Considerations
Bellevue is committed to ensuring the expanded Speed Safety Camera Program is implemented fairly. As required by RCW 46.63.220, the city must consider equity and analyze the impact of camera placement on livability, accessibility, economics, education, and environmental health.
With input from community members and various city departments, Bellevue is developing a framework to help guide decisions related to:
- Camera locations
- Fines and penalties for low-income individuals.
- Re-investment of program revenues into neighborhoods with lower incomes
Fine structure
Bellevue’s current fines, established in 2009, are capped at $124. Under the new state law, fines for speed safety camera infractions are capped at $145 outside of school speed zones and may be doubled for violations occurring within school speed zones. The Speed Safety Camera Program Operations Guide will outline the rationale for any updates to the city’s existing fine structure and include policies to guide future adjustments.
Program Revenues
Revenues collected from speed safety camera infractions will be used to:
- Cover the cost of administering the program
- Support the construction and maintenance of traffic safety infrastructure and operations
As required by state law, a portion of revenue must be reinvested in:
- Areas of Bellevue with the lowest household incomes
- Locations with above-average rates of injury crashes
These reinvestments will help ensure the program delivers safety improvements where they are needed most.
Timeline
- Summer 2025: Technical analysis and community engagement begin to identify candidate camera locations.
- Fall 2025: Draft of the Speed Safety Camera Program Operations Guide completed, incorporating public input, technical findings, and equity considerations. Preparations begin for initial deployment.
- Winter 2025: Finalization of the Operations Guide and planning for future phased implementation.
- Summer 2026: Begin deploying new camera sites, pending Council approval.
How to Get Involved
The project team will be sharing information and answering questions at a variety of online and in-person events. Upcoming events will be listed here as they are scheduled.
Are you part of a community group interested in learning more about the Speed Safety Camera Program? Please email floewenherz@bellevuewa.gov to request a presentation or discussion.
In person events
- July 4, Bellevue Family 4th
- August 5, 12-6 p.m. Crossroads Farmers Market
Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the city expanding enforcement using speed safety cameras?
Expanding the use of speed safety cameras supports Bellevue’s Safe System approach and its Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030.
Speeding is a leading factor in severe and fatal crashes. By encouraging safer driving, the program aims to:
- Reduce speeding
- Improve compliance with posted speed limits
- Lower the risk of serious injuries and deaths
By expanding the program, Bellevue aims to reduce dangerous speeding in areas where cameras are installed. In addition, revenue from citations will be reinvested into safety projects.
When should I expect to see the new cameras and how will I be notified?
The first new speed safety cameras are anticipated to be installed and activated in 2026 as part of an initial deployment guided by the City’s Speed Safety Camera Program Operations Guide. Bellevue will take a phased approach to implementation—starting with a limited number of locations to evaluate effectiveness, ensure community awareness and confirm city capacity for managing the program.
As additional locations are identified, future phases will expand the program to other eligible high-risk areas based on data, equity factors and community input.
To ensure transparency and public awareness, the city will conduct community outreach and public communications in advance of the initial deployment of camera sites. This will include:
- Advance notification through city newsletters, website updates, and social media
- Community engagement opportunities to learn about the program and ask questions
- Clearly posted signage in advance of camera locations, as required by law
For future adjustments—such as relocating mobile units—the city will continue to prioritize clear public communication and compliance with state law while tailoring outreach based on the scale and nature of the change.
What information can be collected by speed safety cameras?
Speed safety cameras capture images and video of vehicles that exceed the posted speed limit. The data collected typically includes:
- Vehicle speed
- License plate number
- Time and date of the violation
- Location of the violation
The system does not record or store personal driver information beyond what is necessary to process a citation. Additionally, footage captured by speed safety cameras is not available for public release and cannot be used in court proceedings unrelated to civil traffic infractions.
Will photo enforcement tickets affect my driving record or insurance?
No. Automated speed enforcement tickets in Bellevue are classified as civil infractions, similar to parking violations. They do not go on your driving record, nor do they impact your insurance rates.