I submitted the petition and a list of the signers along with 2 lists which documented that well over 2,000 drivers have never paid the infraction, I had a conversation with Mayor Olson and asked if he felt the signers and I deserved some kind of response to the petition.
After receiving no response for several weeks I left this letter at city hall. I have also emailed a copy to each council member. The mayor has said he will respond in several weeks.
August 8, 2025
Subject: Request for Response Regarding Traffic Enforcement Cameras
Mayor Olson:
Several weeks ago, I delivered a copy of a petition I created online (change.org), along with the names of 845 individuals who signed it. As I shared with you during our phone conversation shortly afterward, you — along with Councilmembers West and Keith — are publicly identified as “decision makers” on this issue.
During that call, I asked whether you believed the people who signed the petition and I deserved a direct response from you. You said you would call me back the next day. You never did.
Over the past six months, I have provided you and the council with extensive information, much of which I suspect was previously unknown to you. The concerns raised are not minor. They point to significant issues of legality, fairness, and transparency surrounding the use of automated traffic enforcement in Edgewood. For example:
Supreme Court rulings in Missouri and Minnesota have made it clear that even in civil cases, governments cannot issue penalties without sufficient evidence or deny the presumption of innocence. I was advised by legal counsel that "due process is not whatever public officials say it is."
Public records I shared show that roughly half the tickets issued are for speeds of 24–25 mph, many while school is in session — citations no officer would typically write.
The city lost $46,000 at Edgemont in 2024 due to low infraction volume, and another $7,730 in February 2025 alone when the westbound camera on 24th was down. Is this really about safety?
I've given you time lapse pictures at the west bound camera zone on 8th showing there was no one walking on the streets while the lights were flashing in the afternoon.
Washington State Patrol data shows no recorded incidents in Edgewood school zones since at least 2013. The city's justification, including vague data and shifting narratives about "safety," lacks credibility and transparency.
The website language has quietly shifted — it now refers to children riding in cars and buses rather than walking, undermining the justification for active school zone enforcement. WSP data shows no incidents involving school buses.
I've raised concerns about the misleading design of the Notice of Infraction, the requirement for explanations on the affidavit of non-liability (not required by state law), and the thousands of drivers either ignoring citations or claiming non-liability.
After paying court costs and Verra Mobility, the city has netted only about $70,000 for "safety projects" — while extracting over $500,000 a year from residents.
The city has been unable to demonstrate this “program” has accomplished anything other than to collect revenue with Verra Mobility being the largest beneficiary of those funds.
I have put considerable time and effort into researching and presenting this information. I am not alone — nearly a thousand community members have spoken. It is reasonable and fair to expect a response from you as mayor.
When can I expect a reply that addresses the issues raised in full?
Respectfully,
Michael Stanzel
Resident, City of Edgewood