The Edgewood city council had a study session Jan 7 with the school camera program being one of the agenda items.

The council discussed modifying the Edgewood Municipal Code to have a separate accounting of funds collected. This will be required by the state RCW next year but the discussion will be starting to do it now.

They also discussed not including the funds collected in the city budget.

Obviously, given the claims by the city on the city website, it should have been done from the beginning.

The city attorney responded to the following questions I sent to the council and mayor:

Questions that you might want to ask the city attorney.

   Is a traffic violation a criminal or civil issue?
   Is the city required to have any evidence in a civil case?
   What kind of evidence does the city have to have when it issues a traffic camera    infraction?
   What is the definition of “Burden of Proof” in the State of Washington?
   How many licensed drivers are in the State of Washington? (5,868,509)
   How many vehicles are registered in the State of Washington? (2,832,552)
   What would be the statistical odds that the owner is driving? (48.2%)
   What court in the state would convict or find someone guilty of anything with no evidence or solely on an assumption?
   How does the city police department know who is driving the vehicle?

 
Where does the concept of “Due Process” come from?

  Does “Due Process” require the city to have evidence when it accuses a citizen of something?
  Do politicians (the Washington State Legislature) decide what due process is?

 
  Are citizens ever required to prove their innocence?
  Why is an infraction considered the same as a parking ticket?
  What is the fine for a parking ticket?

Questions regarding the affidavit.

  Why doesn't the city list the option of the owner declaring they weren't driving in the lower left corner with the 4 other options?
  What does the state require if the owner wasn't driving?
  Why does the city affidavit ask for an explanation if the owner claims they weren't driving?
  Who wrote the city's affidavit?

The city has offered to have me meet with the city attorney.  Many states have stopped or made traffic enforcement with cameras illegal.  Several State Supreme Courts have ruled them unconstitutional.

There will be a council meeting January 14 where public comment will be heard.   Written comment could be submitted to the council also.  cityhall@cityofedgewood.org