Street racing cameras coming to 10 Seattle roads

Seattle is revving up to add cameras throughout the city to push back against street racing.

But not so fast. While the council voted in favor of creating "restricted racing zones" Tuesday, the Seattle Department of Transportation will conduct an equity analysis first. Mayor Bruce Harrell's office could also add a few more factors for deploying the cameras, most likely to sync the city's transportation and police departments in the effort.

Eventually, 10 restricted racing zones in Seattle will get cameras.

“Automated cameras are an effective enforcement elixir that discourage reckless driving, increase pedestrian safety, and increase efficiency by reducing time-consuming interactions between drivers and police,” said Councilmember Alex Pedersen, who sponsored the legislation and chairs the council's transportation committee. “This technology is another tool in our tool belt to reduce collisions and save lives on some of our city’s most dangerous roadways.”

Councilmember Lisa Herbold also sponsored the restricted racing zones bill, and said in a statement that, "Our community has been pleading for help for years to stop drag racing."

Washington state lawmakers approved the concept of "restricted racing zones" in 2022. Seattle officials jumped on the idea. It is an entirely new endeavor for the city.

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Despite what the name "restricted racing zones" sounds like, racing is not restricted to these zones. Rather, speed cameras are placed along stretches of road known for street racing with the aim of capturing cars engaged in dangerous driving. A citation can be issued after that. The concept is similar to red light cameras, but tuned up for street racing.

Seattle's 10 restricted racing zones that will receive cameras:

• Alki Avenue SW between 63rd Avenue SW and Harbor Avenue SW
• Harbor Avenue SW between Alki Avenue SW and SW Spokane Street
• West Marginal Way SW between SW Spokane Street and Second Avenue SW
• Sand Point Way NE between 38th Avenue NE and NE 95th Street
• NE 65th Street between Sand Point Way NE and Magnuson Park
• Roadways inside Magnuson Park including, but not limited to, NE 65th Street and Lake Shore Drive NE
• Seaview Avenue NW between Golden Gardens Park and 34th Avenue NW
• Third Avenue NW between Leary Way NW and N 145th Street
• Martin Luther King Jr Way South between South Massachusetts Street and South Henderson Street
• Rainier Avenue South from South Jackson Street south to the city limits.