A increasing number of people are complaining about the 20 mph school zone robotic cameras located on 320th at Twin Lakes Elementary and other locations. I noticed Matt Sato’s continued saga on a third ticket at this location. Several people continue to write about similar tickets.

It truly mirrors the shame of a “cash cow” caused by flashing 20 mph in school zones. The flashing light hours appear to vary and some people get mailed tickets even when the lights are not flashing. By the way, has anyone noted children crossing 320th?

Everyone should be aware and obey signals to slow down in school zones. Robotic camera tickets are another creative  process to accomplish this. Infraction photos are analyzed in Arizona and finalized by the Federal Way Police.

The tickets are mailed out ranging in cost on the average of $200 to $400. This is dependent on how fast the violation speed was in the flashing light school zone. The violation amount is paid directly to the Arizona American Lighting Control company. American takes roughly 30 to 40 percent for maintenance of the lights. The City of Federal Way coffers get the balance. Annually, this adds up to a tidy million or two.

An outsider of local government might think that there might be a better way to end this process? Okay, give this some thought. Why not hire more retired and at-home moms? Take for example the two people on Hoyt Road controlling traffic. They put traffic cones in the street and make certain the children get safely where they are going.

This same situation happens on 348th just north of 22nd and Fred Meyer. The kids are escorted safely across the street at the flashing pedestrian zone. The process seems to work well.

Unfortunately, the city traffic brains have studied this and continue to love those cameras at school zones. One has to wonder, is this procedure really for safety or for profit?

Neil Corbin, Federal Way