Washington Traffic Law Blog : Washington Traffic Lawyer & Attorney : Jon Zimmerman Law Firm : Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma

The Seattle P-I reported earlier this month that 67 law enforcement agencies around the state will provide more officers through December 7 for seat-belt emphasis patrols.  Officers will be on the roads day and night looking for motorists and passengers who don't buckle up.  

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission spent over half a million dollars on this year's seat-belt campaign, with roughly $300,000 going to personnel for enforcement of the state's seat-belt law. 

Officials emphasize that seat-belt enforcement is not about issuing tickets but about saving lives.  Whether or not you believe that, and even if you believe that the state should not be mandating whether you or others wear a seat-belt (a valid opinion), there is certainly costs to all taxpayers when uninsured individuals get in collisions and the state has to pay for their medical care.  This alone should be reason enough to wear a seat belt.  If you choose not to, expect to be pulled over. 

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Several months ago, Seattle's mayor, city council, and police chief collaborated on obtaining Seattle's first "speed van," a $174,000 Chevy Uplander paid for by Seattle taxpayers.  

City officials are quite proud of this expense because they believe more people will be issued tickets and that speed cameras help reduce vehicular speed.  Only time will tell whether the speed cameras will reduce collisions. 

Speed van photo enforecment began last month.  For now, expect to be issued a $189 ticket if you speed and get picked up by the speed van. 

You can read more about the van and see a photo of it in the Seattle PI article.

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